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Tamar Khidasheli is Georgian Dream’s candidate for parliament in Sagarejo. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–By-elections for parliament and local elections went ahead in Georgia on Saturday with some minor irregularities.

Two seats in parliament are up for election in Martvili and Sagarejo while there are local elections in Dmanisi, Vani, Khobi and Sagarejo.

According to the Central Election Commission, five candidates have registered for the by-election Sagarejo, in the Kakheti region, while there are two candidates in Martvili, which lies in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region.

In the local election in Sagarejo, there are four candidates running, only one in Dmanisi, three in Vani and two in Khobi.

Candidates for parliament in Sagarejo are Irma Inashvili, from Georgia’s Alliance of Patriots, Tamar Khidasheli, candidate from the Georgian Dream, while Zurab Jorbenadze, Mikheil Andghuladze and Giorgi Davitaia were introduced by independent initiative groups.

Alliance of Patriots selected Eter Medzvelia for the Martvili election, while Soso Danelia runs for Georgian Dream.

The National Movement and several other opposition parties are not participating in the by-election as a sign of protest.

According to the Central Election Committee (CEC), there are 728 observers from 22 local organizations and 22 observers from 4 international organizations in today’s election, as well as 347 media representatives.

All precincts opened in the morning and the election process went ahead peacefully, according to CEC. However there have been reports of some minor violations.

Two seats in parliament became vacant as the MP from Martvili died and the MP for Sagarejo, Tina Khidasheli, was appointed defense minister.