Reporting on elections, sponsored by IREX Georgia.
Final vote count confirms Georgian election result
CEC spokeswoman Eka Azarashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The final results of the presidential election on October 27 show that Giorgi Margvelashvili of the Georgian Dream coalition received 62.12 percent of votes, Davit Bakradze from the National Movement received 21.72 percent and Nino Burjanadze, […]
NDI: Georgia’s election as calm as in the US
Voting on election day. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Democratic Institute (NDI) says after observing the election campaign and the October 27 election that a multiparty and competitive election is becoming routine in Georgian politics. NDI’s observer mission consisted of a 20-member group, who […]
Report highlights some irregularities in Georgia’s election
Observers from six eastern European countries found minor irregularities in Georgia’s presidential election. (EILAT.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Task Force (TF) gives Sunday’s election a positive evaluation, but also highlights several violations. The task force consisted of seven observers from Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine and Poland, […]
New Georgian president will be sworn in Nov 17
Newly elected president Giorgi Margvelashvili will be sworn in November 17. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s new president will sworn in on November 17. The location of the inauguration and other details are unknown. After the swearing-in ceremony, the new president will be empowered to use his authority granted by the Constitution, and the […]
Georgia goes to the polls to elect its fourth president
Voting-papers being prepared at precinct no 4 in Tbilisi on Sunday. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Today, Georgia is holding presidential election. This is the sixth presidential election in the country, but since Mikheil Saakashvili and Eduard Shevardnadze were elected twice, people will elect the fourth president of Georgia. There are 23 candidates […]
1500 prisoners will be able to vote in Georgia’s election
1 576 prisoners will be entitled to vote Sunday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Media outlets registered with the Central Election Commission (CEC) will have the right to observe the election in prisons. 1 576 prisoners and detainees are entitled to vote. The Prison Ministry on Saturday expressed full readiness to conduct the […]
Ivanishvili promises Georgians a fair election
Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili Friday delivered his address to voters two days before the presidential elections, saying that in the last twenty years, this is the first time people have a chance to change their president through election. The […]
Break-in attempt at election precincts in Georgia
TBILIISI, DFWatch–Unknown people Friday night attempted to break into two election precincts in Nadzaladevi, a district in Tbilisi. Police detained them before they managed to break in. The precincts were not damaged. The reason for the break-in attempt is not yet […]
Georgian candidates confront each other in two TV debates
National Movement candidate for president, Davit Bakradze. (Channel 1.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Public Broadcaster October 17 and 18 hosted two TV debates between presidential candidates. Only qualified subjects participated in the debates, those who were presented by the political parties, which receive state funding. There are […]
Georgia’s CEC lifts partial photo ban at election precincts
Voters in line in last year’s parliamentary election. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Central Election Commission has lifted restrictions on the use of photo and video cameras at election precincts. In a statement, CEC writes that it has revoked a resolution by the commission which prohibited the filming or photographing of voting […]
Saakashvili’s party leaves the inter-agency commission
Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement party has left the inter-agency commission, which controls election processes in the country, as a sign of protest. UNM members claim the commission chairman, Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani, said at a closed session meeting […]
Georgia will not open election precinct in Russia
Davit Zalkaniani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There will not be opened election precincts in the Russian Federation for Georgia’s presidential election on October 27. Davit Zalkaliani, First Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, told journalists that there are a number of difficulties involved when […]
Georgian candidates on the campaign trail
Presidential candidate Nestan Kirtadze wants free natural gas for people near the conflict zone. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Less than three weeks left before the presidential election in Georgia, candidates are busy conducting their election campaign. Davit Bakradze, the candidate for the National Movement, on Wednesday met with people in the Racha region. He opened a new […]
Burjanadze wants to punish ‘creators’ of 2008 war
Nino Burjanadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Nino Burjanadze, presidential candidate for Democratic Movement, on Monday presented her election program. Burjanadze explained that the program contains all important areas for the country’s development, and foreign and domestic affairs. […]
Saakashvili reelected UNM leader, presents new party banner
The new National Movement party banner. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement in Georgia Saturday voted to keep Mikheil Saakashvili as party leader, and to change the party symbol to set it off from the national flag. UNM’s symbol, a five-cross flag, was made the national flag in January 2004 following […]
Poll confirms Ivanishvili coalition’s lead
A Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner poll confirms that Giorgi Margvelashvili is likely to win the presidential election. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new party poll ordered by the president’s administration shows that 43 percent of Georgians support the Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate for president, while 22 percent supports the National Movement candidate. The poll, which was conducted […]
Candidate numbers assigned in Georgian election
TBILISI, DFWatch–The Central Election Commission in Georgia has assigned which number each candidate in the October 27 presidential election will have on the ballot-paper. Three parties have retained the numbers they had in the previous election, a privilege afforded […]
NDI poll shows Georgian Dream will win the presidential election
Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–39 percent of Georgians would like to have Georgian Dream’s candidate, Giorgi Margvelashvili, as their next president. 18 percent support Davit Bakradze from the United National Movement, according to a new survey by the National Democratic Institute […]
NGOs highlight problems with voter registration
From left to right: Rusiko Machaidze, Keti Chachava, and Irina Putkaradze. (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–DF Watch organized another round table discussion on September 18 about election. It was attended by the representatives of two local non-governmental organizations, and the purpose was to discuss problems in the election period and what steps have […]
Violations found in Burjanadze’s party
Nino Burjanadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The State Audit Office says it found violations in the financial declaration of the Democratic Movement party, the leader of which is presidential candidate Nino Burjanadze. According to the office, Burjanadze’s party recently started opening new […]
23 candidates in Georgia’s presidential election
TBILISI, DFWatch–23 people have registered as candidates in the upcoming presidential election in Georgia, according to the Central Election Commission. There were 54 applications, out of which 31 were rejected due to various reasons. 42 of the applications came from […]
Campaign event in Zugdidi goes ahead without violence
National Movement presidential candidate Davit Bakradze addressing supporters in Zugdidi Sept. 11, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On September 11, the National Movement’s presidential candidate David Bakradze rallied supporters in Zugdidi while representatives of Defend Georgia gathered for an anti-UNM demonstration. Unlike the events of July 20, there was no violence against […]
Should media be allowed to film inside election precincts?
Zakaria Kutsnashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s inter-faction group to oversee the election asks the Central Election Commission (CEC) to lift restrictions on the media in election precincts. Former head of CEC Zurab Kharatishvili last year enforced restrictions on where journalists […]
Saakashvili’s party not allowed to air TV commercials
The commercials claim Georgian Dream has broken its promises. (Frame from UNM’s commercial.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Public Broadcaster has turned down the National Movement party’s request to place free election commercial on its channels. According to a statement by the UNM, the party provided six commercials, one of which was about the ‘unfulfilled […]
Saakashvili names three candidates for new CEC head
President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, has presented three candidates for head of the Central Election Commission (CEC). Saakashvili’s proposed candidates are Tamar Zhvania, Manuchar Gamkrelidze and Konstantine Amirajibi. The candidates were […]
Zourabichvili lost appeal in city court, continues fight
Salome Zourabichvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Friday upheld a decision by the Central Election Commission (CEC) to not allow former Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili to register as a candidate for the presidential election. Zourabichvili’s appeal against the CEC’s decision […]
Salome Zourabichvili not allowed to register as a candidate
Salome Zourabichvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Central Election Commission refused to let former Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili register as a candidate for president in the upcoming election. The reason is that under Georgian legislation a citizen of a foreign country cannot […]
How the role of the president will change in Georgia
Power will shift from president to prime minister after October’s election. Pictured: President Mikheil Saakashvili (left), and Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Photo published on Ivanishvili’s Facebook page.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia will change from a presidential republic into a parliamentary one after the election on October 27. We give you the details. The new president will start fulfilling his duties as soon as he has been sworn in, and after this ceremony, the […]
Georgian NGOs want a new CEC head with UN background
TBILISI, DFWatch–Eleven non-governmental organizations which work on election issues will Friday name their candidate to fill the vacant position as chairman of the Central Election Commission. The NGOs plan to propose Tamar Zhvania, a project manager at […]
Georgia’s finance minister reminds staff of election rules
Minister of Finance Nodar Khaduri. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Minister of Finance Nodar Khaduri has sent out a special statement to ministry employees that makes clear what restrictions they must follow regarding election campaigning. The statement concerns the Code of Conduct for public servants and includes […]
Georgia’s election system: Improvements and pitfalls
From left to right: Levan Natroshvili (TI), Lela Taliauri (GYLA), Irina Imerlishvili, MP, and journalist Rusiko Machaidze. (DFWatch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–DF Watch organized a round table on election issues with representatives of two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream coalition. They discussed amendments to the election legislation and also problems which […]
Georgia’s commission to prevent election fraud holds first session
Minister of Justice, Thea Tsulukiani. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s interagency commission for free and fair elections on Monday held its first session. It was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice. The commission was created ahead of last year’s parliamentary election to prevent […]
OSCE election observers will arrive in Georgia Sept 16
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maia Panjikidze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–OSCE’s long term observers for the upcoming presidential election will arrive in Georgia on September 16. Maia Panjikidze, Foreign Affairs Minister, on Friday told journalists that Georgia has received a positive response from the NATO Parliamentary […]
Ivanishvili launches his candidate’s presidential election campaign
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili (left) and candidate for president Giorgi Margvelashvili with supporters in Nokalakevi. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili opened the Georgian Dream coalition’s election campaign on Monday, in the historical town Nokalakevi. The event marked the official launch of the coalition’s election campaign and its candidate for president, […]
Georgia’s CEC head resigns
Zurab Kharatishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Two months before Georgia’s presidential election, the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Zurab Kharatishvili, has resigned. Kharatishvili’s reason for leaving is not known. He has published a statement saying that he is leaving, but will […]
Bakradze calls for national agreement to ensure stability
The National Movement’s candidate for president, Davit Bakradze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–National Movement presidential candidate Davit Bakradze has put forth a plan called the national agreement and asked the ruling Georgian Dream coalition to make changes to solve the country’s economic problems. Presenting his party’s initiative […]
New party financing model to include small parties
TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has presented figures for how political parties are to receive state funding in this year’s election campaign. 2 100 000 lari (USD 1 300 000) will be allocated for the seven parties that are represented in parliament; 1 050 […]
Saakashvili’s party had 700 state debit cards in ’12 campaign
TBILISI, DFWatch–Former Justice Minister Zurab Adeisvhili personally ordered the Chairman of Tbilisi Development Foundation to order debit cards, which made it possible to withdraw millions from the state coffers. The scheme was meant to be used to finance the National […]
Georgian Dream expels one member after protests
Protester outside the National Movement’s primary in Tbilisi, July 28, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream party has expelled one of its members and warned two of them in relation with the scuffle on July 20 in Zugdidi during the National Movement’s primary election. Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia on Monday issued a statement […]
Margvelashvili accepts offer to hold presidential debates
Tbilisi, DFWatch – The Georgian Dream coalition’s president candidate, Giorgi Margvelashvili, accepts the offer from his competitor Davit Bakradze from the National Movement, who invited him to a series of election debates. Margvelashvili told journalists on Monday that […]
Anti-Saakashvili protesters released
The protesters demanded that the Saakashvili regime be brought to justice. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court on Sunday released three persons who were detained on Saturday during a scuffle outside the National Movement’s party conference and gave them a 100 lari (USD 60) fine. Davit Chantladze, Irakli Chubabria and Pridon Merebashvili […]
Saakashvili’s party announces Bakradze as candidate for president
Three were detained during the protest outside the National Movement party conference in Tbilisi on Sunday. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Davit Bakradze, leader of the parliamentary opposition, has been announced as the National Movement’s official candidate for the upcoming presidential election. UNM’s sixth and final primary election was held on Saturday in Tbilisi. The final […]
Bokeria pointing at government for attacks on opposition
Giga Bokeria says the police reaction to the violence in western Georgia was inadequate. (IPN.) Tbilisi, DFWatch – The interagency commission for free and fair election expresses concern about incidents, which took place this Saturday and Sunday during United National Movement’s primary election conferences in Batumi and Zugdidi, Western Georgia, where people threw […]
Margvelashvili: Ivanishvili leaving post, not politics
Georgian Dream presidential candidate Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) Tbilisi, DFWatch—The first remark about Bidzina Ivanishvili stepping down as prime minister came from the Georgian Dream coalition’s presidential candidate who says that ‘the PM plans to leave his post, but not politics.’ Giorgi Margvelashvili, Ivanishvili’s […]
Government in Georgia overhauling election regulations
TBILISI, DFWatch–Less than three months before the presidential election, the Georgian Dream coalition is working on improving the election legislation, and has introduced five sets of amendments. According to the draft of the amendments, voters who were taken off […]
ISFED: No violations so far in Georgia’s election campaign
ISFED director Nino Lomjaria said a programme for loans to farmers may resemble voter bribery, as some of the money comes from a fund linked to Prime Minister Ivanishvili. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–There has so far not been been observed any violations in the election campaign for the presidential election on October 27. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a non-governmental organization which specializes in election […]
Saakashvili’s party haunted by violent crowds
TBILISI, DFWatch–President Saakashvili’s National Movement had a tough weekend with both party conferences interrupted by demonstrators. After being greeted by an angry hoe-wielding crowd in Zugdidi Saturday, the UNM gathered in Batumi Sunday, only to see protesters […]
Violent protest outside Saakashvili party’s conference
Protesters want the National Movement party out of Samegrelo. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The National Movement’s fourth primary on Saturday took place against the backdrop of violent clashes with an angry hoe-wielding crowd who threw stones and bottles. For the fourth time, the UNM’s primary was won by former Speaker of Parliament […]
Ivanishvili government tries to clean up campaigning rules
Zakaria Kutsnashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A new amendment to the election code will require top officials to resign two days after they are registered as candidates in the presidential election. The new regulations will apply to the prime minister, ministers of autonomous republics […]
Georgian opera star dispels rumors of presidential run
Paata Burchuladze. (Intrpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–As the presidential election in October is drawing nearer, Georgians are discussing candidates and who their next president might be. The Georgian Dream coalition has already decided on Education Minister Giorgi Margvelashvili as their candidate, […]
Poll shows Ivanishvili bloc leading UNM 29 to 10 percent
Giorgi Margvelashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–45 percent of people like Giorgi Margvelashvili, the Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate for president, while 48 percent like Davit Bakradze, who most likely will be the National Movement’s candidate. When asked who they would want as president, […]
Bakradze wins primary in Kakheti
Davit Bakradze, one of the National Movement’s four candidates for president. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Davit Bakradze, parliamentary leader of the National Movement, defended his frontrunner status Sunday with a third primary election win. 566 UNM delegates met in Telavi, a town in the eastern Kakheti region, to listen to a debate between Davit […]
Bakradze wins Saakashvili party’s second primary
Davit Bakradze, one of UNM’s four candidates for president. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Davit Bakradze, leader of the parliamentary opposition, won the United National Movement’s second primary election for the upcoming presidential election in October. This latest party conference was held in Gori, a town closer to the capital. […]
Saakashvili changes date of election
Current President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has changed the date of the upcoming presidential election from October 31 to October 27. He announced date of the election July 2, but the date caused concern among experts and non-governmental organizations, […]
Georgians are questioning the date of the election
TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, a discussion has begun about the date of the presidential election. Yesterday, President Mikheil Saakashvili set the date to October 31, which will be a Thursday. But groups claim a presidential election must be held in a weekend. […]
Georgia’s presidential election to be held October 31
October 31, Georgians will select a successor to current president Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian president has decided to set October 31, 2013, as the date of the presidential election. A few hours before this became known, October 27 was named as Election Day, but the head of the president’s administration held a briefing to say […]
Saakashvili’s party meets for first primary debate
From left to right: Zurab Japaridze, Shota Malashkhia, Davit Bakradze and Giorgi Baramidze. (UNM photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United National Movement Sunday kicked off its election campaign for the presidential election with a debate between the candidates. The event took place in Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city and current seat of parliament, and will be […]
Saakashvili’s party names four presidential candidates
UNM spokesman Giorgi Vashadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement on Saturday named four candidates for the party’s primary election to select as candidate for the upcoming presidential election in October. Party spokesman Giorgi Vashadze presented the […]
Saakashvili’s party to start election campaign on June 30
UNM spokesperson Giorgi Vashadze. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The United National Movement has announced that its election campaign will be launched on June 30. UNM member Giorgi Vashadze said on Friday that the party will name all its candidates, who will then participate in a primary election to select […]
Ivanishvili says he will leave after election
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili plans to leave office in fall. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili plans to leave his post after the presidential election in October. He said this in an interview with the Russian edition of the Estonian newspaper Postimees on Saturday. The prime minister said he plans to leave […]
Government wants parliament to have more time to prepare budget
Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream bloc wants to keep having a relatively low threshold for amending the constitution and to give parliament longer time to work out a budget before it leads to a government’s dismissal and a new election. […]
Ivanishvili impatient to set date for presidential election
Giorgi Margvelashvili speaking as Georgian Dream’s candidate for president. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishivli calls on President Mikheil Saakashvili to set a date for the presidential election. Representatives of the president’s administration told DF Watch that the president’s opinion about this issue is still unknown. […]
Ivanishvili picks Margvelashvili as candidate for president
Giorgi Margvelashvili looks likely to become Georgia’s next president, if the latest poll is correct. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition has chosen Minister of Education Giorgi Margvelashvili as its candidate for president in the upcoming election. “Giorgi Margvelashvili has all good skills to be a president,” Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said at […]
Georgia’s next president is being selected
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania says he knows ‘almost for certain’ who the Georgian Dream coalition will pick for presidential candidate. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of the two main political blocs in Georgia are discussing who might be their candidate for the presidential election in October, 2013. Both plan to hold a ballot to select their candidate. In a recent survey conducted by the National […]
Ivanishvili intensifies search for presidential candidate
Bidzina Ivanishvili’s coalition is searching for a candidate for president. Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (left) has been mentioned as a strong contender. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition will name its candidate for president next week. At the end of the week, the coalition’s council will decide who will represent it in the upcoming presidential election. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on Tuesday […]
Georgia may start using biometric voters lists
Voters queuing on election day October 1, 2012. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia is considering using biometric information to identify voters in the next election. A cross-faction group in parliament presented a proposal on Monday about how to prepare the voters’ list in the future. Those behind the project […]
Counting finishes in Georgia by-election
Voting underway Saturday at a precinct in Nadzaladevi, Tbilisi. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Georgian Dream coalition’s candidates have won the by-election in all three districts, according to preliminary results after counting of votes in all precincts. The Central Election Commission on Sunday published the results of counting votes […]
Ivanishvili alliance wins Georgia by-election
Voting precinct in Tbilisi’s Nadzaladevi district Saturday. (DFWatch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Results published by the Central Election Commission after Saturday’s by-election in Georgia show that all three Georgian Dream coalition candidates are leading. According to the CEC results, Tamar Kordzaia, Georgian Dream coalition candidate […]
Violations observed in Georgia by-election
Photo from Baghdati showing the car allegedly belonging to a policeman parked outside the voting precinct. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In Georgia, a by-election is underway in three election districts. Turnout is largest in Baghdati, a town in western Georgia, where 21 percent (5 000) voters already had cast their vote by noon. 10 percent voted in Nadzaladevi, a district in Tbilisi, […]
By-elections in three districts in Georgia today
TBILISI, DFWatch–By-elections are held three places in Georgia on Saturday to fill seats in parliament that became vacant as the Ivanishvili government took power last year. The three election districts are, Nadzaladevi in the capital Tbilisi, and Samtredia […]
Ivanishvili bloc leading ahead of Georgian presidential election
National Democratic Institute’s Country Director for Georgia, Luis Navarro, presenting the poll on Monday. (DF Watch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–If public attitudes stay the same until fall, the Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate will win the presidential election clearly, without the need for a second round. 58 percent of Georgians say they would like to see the Georgian Dream candidate […]
US State Dep hails Georgian election in new report
TBILISI, DFWatch–The U.S. State Department has published a report on human rights which describes the October election in Georgia as historic. The report deals with the parliamentary election in October, the prison torture, problems within the justice system […]
Saakashvili says government is partly Russian-friendly
The Ivanishvili government is ‘partly friendly towards Russia’, President Mikheil Saakashvili claimed at a rally of his party, the National Movement, on Friday. (DF Watch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In a speech Friday, President Mikheil Saakashvili accused the Georgian government of being ‘partly friendly towards Russia’. He was speaking at a rally of his party, the United National Movement, in Tbilisi in order to show off popular support […]
Saakashvili’s supporters gathering in Tbilisi for rally
TBILISI, DFWatch–The United National Movement (UNM) party of President Mikheil Saakashvili will be subject to intense scrutiny today as it launches this year’s election campaign outside the old parliament in Tbilisi. Two organizations have informed that they […]
Saakashvili allies rally in Tbilisi today
TBILISI, DFWatch–Saakashvili’s National Movement party is holding a protest rally at the old parliament building in Tbilisi today. According to the Interior Ministry, several streets and squares will be blocked off in connection with the event. There will be no traffic […]
Kutaisi mayor deposed by city assembly
TBILISI, DFWatch–The city assembly in Kutaisi, Georgia’s second largest city, has dismissed its mayor by 14 votes against five. Besik Bregadze, former Kutaisi mayor, said that he now has an opportunity to rest, but still doesn’t know if he will remain […]
Ivanishvili dares Saakashvili to announce new election
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has a clear message to President Mikheil Saakashvili: If you want to dismiss the government and announce a new election for parliament, go ahead and see what happens. Ivanishvili said he would welcome […]
CEC approves candidates for Georgian by-election
Tamar Kordzaia is Georgian Dream’s candidate for the Nadzaladevi district in the capital Tbilisi. (Georgian Dream photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The Central Election Commission in Georgia has confirmed the list of candidates for the by-elections on April 27. The two major political blocs in Georgia presented their majoritarian candidates one week ago. The election is needed because three […]
Saakashvili loses control of Kutaisi
TBILISI, DFWatch–Saakashvili’s National Movement party has lost its majority in Kutaisi city assembly. This is the second largest city in Georgia, and where the parliament currently is located. A nearby air field also newly connected the city by international […]
7 members called for questioning, embattled UNM still holds ground in Tbilisi Sakrebulo
Zaal Samadashvili will retain the post of City Assembly Chairman for the next three months (Official Photo) Tbilisi, DFWatch – Seven members of Tbilisi City Assembly, all from the Saakashvili’s United National Movement, were summoned on Friday for interrogation to the investigative body of the Ministry […]
Saakashvili signs constitutional amendment
Tbilisi, DFWatch – President Mikheil Saakashvili has signed the constitutional amendment which reduces his power, and it will be enforced as soon as it is published on Georgia’s legislative website. Speaker of Parliament […]
Parliament waiting for Saakashvili to sign constitution
Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The governing coalition in Georgia says parliament will listen to President Mikheil Saakashvili’s annual address as soon as a set of recently passed constitutional amendments are signed into law and enforced. February 8, Saakashvili should have […]
Constitutional amendments are finally passed
TBILISI, DFWatch–The constitutional amendments which reduce the powers of President Mikheil Saakashvili were passed on Monday by 114 votes against 0 at the third and final hearing. When the amendments come into force, the president can no longer change […]
Saakashvili ‘bought 25 000 SIM cards to build Facebook support’
Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri (left) and Defense Minister Irakli Alasania inspecting a military camp earlier this month. (Ministry of Defense.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Defense Minister Irakli Alasania Thursday told parliament that the defense ministry last year purchased 25 000 SIM cards for mobile phones in order to build up Facebook support before the election. Speaking during a meeting with the defense committee […]
Constitutional amendments may fail
TBILISI, DFWatch–The constitutional amendments to limit the president’s power to dismiss parliament may fail to be passed. The reason is that Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvivi’s Georgian Dream coalition lacks the votes to pass the amendments, while Saakashvili’s […]
Saakashvili’s party agrees to constitutional changes
Member of Parliament Davit Bakradze says the National Movement party will give exactly as many votes to the governing coalition as it needs. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party has agreed to support a set of the constitutional amendments which will limit the powers of the president, but only if Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s coalition lacks the required votes. The Georgian […]
Lawmakers start work on constitutional amendments
TBILISI, DFWatch–Parliament in Georgia will today start reviewing a draft bill for amending the constitution and reduce the president’s right to dismiss the government any time he wants without confirmation from the parliament. The bill, which is signed by 78 MPs, […]
Pro-Russia party to be founded by former Georgian minister
Valeri Khaburdzania. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–A former security minister who was fired by President Mikheil Saakashvili after the Rose Revolution in 2003 is to found a new political party with a pro-Russian orientation. Valeri Khaburdzania, who has lived in Russia for the last two years and just […]
Constitutional amendments may be modified
TBILISI, DFWatch–A draft law already presented to parliament which will reduce the powers of the president may be amended. According to the draft of constitutional changes, if the president dismisses parliament and government, he won’t have the right to himself […]
Saakashvili claims Georgian exiles behind Ivanishvili’s election win
President Mikheil Saakashvili claims a group of Georgian exiles in Russia were behind the Georgian Dream coalition’s election win in October, 2012. (Photo: President’s administration.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili claims that billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili came to power in 2012 thanks to a group of Georgian exiles in Russia who provided funding and support. As he returned from a trip to Azerbaijan last week, Saakashvili […]
President should return to reality, says Ivanishvili
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says his meeting with President Mikheil Saakashvili was an exercise in futility. Summing up today’s conversation with Saakashvili, he opened with asking the journalists: “You have met with the president, did you […]
Saakashvili outlines Georgia’s democracy challenges
President Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili says three main challenges are facing democracy in Georgia: establishing independent courts, to end pressure against the media and to stop political persecution. He said this after a meeting with Prime Minister Bidzina […]
Georgian leaders meeting to solve gridlock
TBILISI, DFWatch–Expectations are high before a meeting between Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and President Mikheil Saakashvili now at 15:00 Monday to solve a crisis over the constitution. Saakashvili has arrived at the government office in his electric car – this time with an escort […]
Saakashvili and Ivanishvili meet at 3 pm
TBILISI, DFWatch–The president and prime minister of Georgia will meet have their second official meeting today at 15:00 at the government office to discuss ‘important topics for the country.’ The meeting will be closed to the media. Only PR staff working for the […]
Ivanishvili and Saakashvili to meet Monday morning
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s president and prime minister will meet on Monday. The main topic of conversation will be ‘important issues of the country’, according to the president. The date of their meeting became known on Friday, after Prime Minister Bidzina […]
Norland asks government to avoid vengeance
From left to right: Georgia’s Patriarch Ilia II, the ambassador’s wife Mary Hartnett, and US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland. (US Embassy photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland asks the Ivanishvili government to avoid vengeance as it seeks to prosecute many of the people who ran the country while President Mikheil Saakashvili held power. “There was a need now to balance the desire for […]
Local government reform to involve people more
Davit Narmania, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The goal of a new reform of local government is to involve locals in solving their own problems, like bad roads and failing water supply. The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure on Monday laid out its new decentralization plan and […]
Saakashvili plans to stay in politics
TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili, who will leave office in October, says that he doesn’t plan to leave politics, because this would mean running away from the battlefield and letting everything which he has built be ruined. Saakashvili has served […]
Constitution talks break down
TBILISI, DFWatch–The negotiations between Saakashvili’s party and Ivanishvlii’s coalition about constitutional changes have failed, because the president demanded an amnesty for all crimes committed by officials in his government, a demand rejected by Georgian Dream. […]
Ivanishvili government’s first 100 days
From left to right: Eka Gigauri from Transparency International, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, and Prison Minister Sozar Subari. (DF Watch photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Georgia met for a conference on Monday to sum up the three months after the parliamentary election of Georgia. Representatives of NGOs working in the human rights field described the government’s first 100 […]
Georgian parliament to debate foreign policy constitution
TBILISI, DFWatch–Lawmakers in Georgia today start debating whether to write its foreign policy into the constitution, and if so, how many details of it. Foremost among issues likely to end up in the constitution is EU and NATO membership aspirations. The bill, […]
Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream holds party conference
TBILISI, DFWatch–Bidzina Ivanishvili was Saturday elected honorable chairman of the Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia Party. The Prime Minister’s Party on Saturday held a large congress at Tbilisi Concert Hall to elect a political council and a party chairman. […]
Agreement about reducing powers of president
TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Dream coalition and the National Movement Party agree to reduce the powers of the president. This will need immediate enforcement of that part of the constitution which applies to the powers of the president and which should have been […]
By-elections to be held April 27
TBILISI, DFWatch–By-elections will be held April 27 in three districts of Georgia to fill seats made vacant when members of parliament were appointed to government positions last year. The three districts are Nadzaladevi in Tbilisi, and Baghdati and Samtreida, two […]
Saakashvili’s local people are leaving
TBILISI, DFWatch–According to a new survey, the number keeps growing of public employees who are members of President Saakashvili’s party and have been fired after the parliamentary elections of October, 2012. The report, which is published by International Society […]
Power-sharing talks continue in Georgia
Davit Bakradze (left) and Davit Usupashvili. (President’s administration.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The two main political blocs in Georgia met Tuesday to try to agree on how to change the constitution, but without results. Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili from the governing Georgian Dream coalition said he believes it is possible to bring […]
Press conference turned into TV debate
From left to right: Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili, President Mikheil Saakashvili and former Speaker of Parliament Davit Bakradze. (President’s administration.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The president and the speaker of parliament Monday emerged after an hour-long meeting and agreed that it had been a productive one, although the only thing they agree on was that agreement is necessary on important issues. Speaker of Parliament Davit […]
Saakashvili argues for keeping parliament in Kutaisi
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says his party supports constitution changes regarding limiting his powers, but doesn’t support the change which suggests moving parliament back to Tbilisi. In his speech held at the president’s residence […]
Saakashvili: I won’t be locked up in my palace
TBILISI, DFWatch — After violent clashes caused him to change venue for the state of the nation address Friday, President Mikheil Saakashvili held his televised address from his residence. No one will be able to lock me up in this palace, the president said. He opened […]
Saakashvili’s party loses two members of parliament
Member of Parliament Marika Verulashvili has left the National Movement. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Two more members of parliament for the National Movement have left their party’s faction in the last few days. The party of President Mikheil Saakashvili is now down to 55 representatives in the assembly of 150. Speaker of Parliament Davit […]
Ivanishvili is still not a Georgian citizen
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. (Official photo.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s head of government Bidzina Ivanishvili has temporarily suspended the process of canceling his French passport, because it may cost him his position. The prime minister said at a press conference Tuesday that he still doesn’t have […]
CoE expert confident in Ivanishvili’s democratic aspirations
Gianni Buquicchio, President of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Venice Commission president Gianni Buquicchio says he will continue cooperating with the new government in Georgia. Before he left Georgia, Buquicchio held a press conference to sum up his stay and his meetings with the president, the prime […]
Saakashvili compares Georgian Dream with epidemic
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili compares the opposition victory in the October, 2012 parliament election with an epidemic. “Sometimes I think there was no election on October 1, but some type of natural disease swept across some of our […]
Saakashvili’s party recruiting people to weaken government
Impatient. National Movement Secretary Vano Merabishvili can’t wait four years for the next election. “There are other methods,” he says. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili’s political party says it can’t wait four years for a change of power and instead will try to ‘weaken’ the Ivanishvili government. Secretary General of the National Movement, Vano Merabisvhili, says they do not plan […]
Saakashvili’s party broke law, escapes consequences
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s new government has pardoned the National Movement party for law violations during the election campaign in 2012. The violations were described in a dossier published Friday by the Audit Office, a public body tasked with tracking […]
Ivanishvili government overhauling election legislation
Zakaria Kutsnashvili, member of parliament for Georgian Dream. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government has started an overhaul of the election legislation. A group in parliament will prepare a draft of amendments, but some experts argue that the non-governmental sector and parties outside parliament should also be involved in the […]
Ivanishvili demoted Alasania to end speculation
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili doesn’t want speculation about a possible presidential run for Defense Minister Irakli Alasania in October, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says the reason he removed Defense Minister Irakli Alasania from his post as vice prime minister was to end speculation in Alasania’s party about making him a candidate for president. The prime minister […]
Alasania to focus on defense
Irakli Alasania is no longer vice prime minister, only defense minister. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili has relieved Defense Minister Irakli Alasania of his additional responsibilities as vice prime minister. The press office of the PM says a decree was issued January 21 and that Ivanishvili will explain […]
Alasania not a candidate for president
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania in the funeral of Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze Jan. 5, 2013. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch — Defense Minister Irakli Alasania says the Georgian Dream coalition has had ‘an awkward discussion’ about selecting a candidate for the presidential election, but he doesn’t consider himself a candidate, as he feels responsibility for the post he […]
Tight security around Kutaisi hearing
TBILISI, DFWatch — Another public hearing is ongoing in Kutaisi to discuss constitutional amendments about changing the location of parliament and limiting the president’s power. Members of parliament from the majority Georgian Dream and the minority National […]
Freedom House calls Georgia an electoral democracy
TBILISI, DFWatch — The human rights group Freedom House writes in a new report that Georgia is now an electoral democracy. The group gives Georgia an improved democracy score in its report Freedom in the World 2013, as a consequence of the peaceful transfer […]
On hunger strike to demand town’s regime change
TBILISI, DFWatch — Local supporters of the governing Georgian Dream coalition in a town in western Georgia are on hunger strike for the eighth day demanding that the local mayor resigns. Organizers plan to hold a demonstration January 16 if their demand is not met. […]
Saakashvili still appointing “his” people where he can
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili says he will continue to appoint his party members to bodies under his control. Saturday, Saakashvili appointed Khatuna Ochiauri, member of parliament (MP) before the last election, as governor of Mtskheta Mtianeti […]
Saakashvili’s party under pressure in Tetritskaro
TBILISI, DFWatch — Friday, another rally was held to demand the resignation of the local government in a small town in eastern Georgia. The population of Tetritskharo, which lies in the Kvemo Kartli region, doesn’t want the former ruling party to govern their town, […]
Georgian government forgives Saakashvili associates
TBILISI, DFWatch — Parliament’s judiciary committee has started reviewing a draft bill which will free former government officials from responsibility for crimes committed while in office. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili first announced the idea in the end of […]
Saakashvili appoints official accused of corruption as governor
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvil has appointed a former government official who has twice been detained after the change of government as new governor in the Samegrelo region. Tengiz Gunava used to be Chairman of the General Inspection […]
Further details about fraud at pro-Saakashvili campaign rallies
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Prosecutor’s Office has forwarded the National Audit Office results of its investigation into the National Movement Party’s eleven rallies last September. The rallies were held September 8 in different regions of the country to show off support. […]
GD: Saakashvili can dissolve parliament, not dismiss gov’t
TBILISI, DFWatch — Parliament will go back to work from mid-January in order to start work on a bill about constitutional amendments which will prevent the president from dismissing the government. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s government proposes to change […]
Saakashvili supporters gather signatures for him to stay
TBILISI, DFWatch — A group of supporters of the former government have started gathering signatures in support of President Mikheil Saakashvili. The group has published a petition on its Facebook page which says that according to the constitution, Mikheil Saakashvili […]
800 000 Georgians demand Saakashvili’s resignation
TBILISI, DFWatch — Five years after the last presidential election in Georgia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) claim that they have gathered 800 000 signatures in support of a demand that President Saakashvili should resign. Georgian Dream, the new ruling party, […]
Saakashvili celebrated two terms as president
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili’s second term ended on Saturday, January 5. Five years ago, on January 5, 2008, Georgia held a snap presidential election, following a period of social unrest. The protests reached their peak on November 7, 2007, […]
Government partners to compete in local election
TBILISI, DFWatch — The parties that make up the Georgian Dream coalition will compete against each other in the local election in 2014, Levan Berdzenishvili, one of the coalition leaders, said today. The next election is the presidential election in October, 2013. […]
Saakashvili suggests plan of cooperation
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili says he is ready to cooperate with the governing Georgian Dream and its leader and has proposed a plan of cooperation. The invitation came during Saakashvili’s New Year’s speech Monday night. He focused on cooperation […]
Georgian parliament overturns Saakashvili’s veto
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Georgian parliament overrode President Mikheil Saakashvili’s veto against a law about mass amnesty. 91 MPs voted against Saakashvili’s new version of the law, while 4 supported it. Now, the Georgian Dream coalition’s law, which was passed […]
Amid crisis, Georgia moves to give president more powers
TBILISI, DFWatch — The governing Georgian Dream coalition suggests bringing forward a planned reform to give the president power to immediately dissolve parliament and announce a new parliamentary election. The powers are part of a package of constitutional […]
Fraud allegations against Saakashvili campaign rally
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Prosecutor’s Office in Georgia says public money was spent on campaign rallies for President Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement party last September, which is illegal, and that documents were falsified to cover it up. The party […]
Security Council spent money on lobbyists, Ivanishvili claims
TBILISI, DFWatch — The Secretary of the Security Council and the Prime Minister disagree about the expenses and financing for the National Security Council of Georgia. The issue surfaced when the 2013 budget was presented to parliament, showing that the […]
Saakashvili will not dismiss Ivanishvili’s government
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili says he has no intention of dismissing the new government. In a live televised press conference late Thursday night, he said that he has no plans to use his constitutional powers to dismiss the cabinet. […]
80 % of Georgians like Ivanishvili
TBILISI, DFWatch — 80 percent of the Georgian population likes the new Prime Minister, while only 29 percent likes the president. 63 percent support the Georgian Dream coalition, while 10 percent support the former ruling party. Those are the results of a survey […]
Ivanishvili’s election promises considered unrealistic
TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government’s proposed budget is in some regards unrealistic, according to a new report. Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) presented the report Analysis and Recommendations on 2013 year Draft Budget of Georgia on Tuesday. […]
Ivanishvili defends cuts in Saakashvili’s lifestyle
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia spends nearly USD 85 000 per day on its president, while the minimum amount of pension is USD 60 a month. Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said it on Wednesday as his government was discussing the 2013 draft budget, and the comment […]
Political clashes in Georgian villages
TBILISI, DFWatch — There were clashes between supporters of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili and President Mikheil Saakaashvili in two Georgian villages on Tuesday. Locals in Martvili, a small town in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region in the west, demanded […]
Ivanishvili will not impeach Saakashvili
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili will not impeach President Mikheil Saakashvili, as he previously had said he would do. “When we enter parliament as a majority we will immediately begin to discuss his impeachment if he doesn’t proceed to […]
Ivanishivili changes plans: won’t leave power
TBILISI, DFWatch — The billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who recently became prime minister of Georgia, is considering going back on a promise to leave politics in a year and a half. During the election campaign, Ivanishvili claimed that he would leave politics […]
Repeat elections give Georgian Dream the upper hand
TBILISI, DFWatch — There were repeat elections at eleven precincts in three regions of Georgia on Sunday. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), voter turnout at the time voting ended was 32.9 percent. The repeat election was conducted peacefully without […]
Repeat elections in Georgia due to serious fraud
TBILISI, DFWatch — Eleven precincts in three districts in Georgia are holding repeat elections Sunday, because of grave irregularities which led to results of the October 1 parliamentary election being canceled. All eleven are what’s called majoritarian or first-past-the-post […]
More elections in Georgia following violations
TBILISI, DFWatch — Several election districts in Georgia will have to vote again on October 14 because the results of the October 1 parliamentary election were annulled due to violations, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The commission decided on Wednesday […]
Georgian Dream activists accused of violence
TBILISI, DFWatch — The physical harassment and psychological pressure against the district election commissions is continuing. Activists from the Georgian Dream party, which won the parliamentary election last week, are now accused of harassing local authorities in Marneuli […]
Counting completed, many complaints
TBILISI, DFWatch — Four days after the election, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said the counting of votes had been completed and announced the final results. After collating votes from 3 766 district, preliminary results show the Georgian Dream coalition received […]
Video shows armed attack on voting precinct
TBILISI, DFWatch — A video was publishedThursday showing a person wearing a mask breaking into one of the election precincts in Khashuri, a small town in eastern Georgia. On election day Monday, there were reports about special units breaking into several precincts […]
Wave of demonstrations against election fraud
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian Dream and others are protesting outside the election commission offices in nineteen one-past-the-post districts where the National Movement party is winning. According to the latest figures from the Central Election Commission, Georgian Dream […]
Saakashvili lost in his favorite region
TBILISI, DFWatch — President Mikheil Saakashvili’s party lost the election in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. This is his favorite region which he visits frequently. Georgian Dream coalition got 57.6 percent of the votes according to the most recent figures from the […]
Clinton congratulates Georgian election winners
TBILISI, DFWatch – The U.S. Secretary of State responded to Monday’s election in Georgia congratulating Georgians on their peaceful and active participation in the election. A statement published on the State Department website says the election was a historic day for […]
Counting of votes almost completed
TBILISI, DFWatch – The counting of votes is almost finished in Georgia and results show that the opposition leads with 55.1 percent, against the ruling National Movement with 40.1 percent of votes. The other parties seem to not overcome the 5 percent barrier for getting […]
Most violations were not grave, ISFED found
TBILISI, DFWatch – International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) summed up events on Election Day and reported about violations. The organization had 300 observers at 63 election district from 73. ISFED found that the election process went mostly with […]
Parallel vote counting confirms opposition win
TBILISI, DFWatch – A group carrying out parallel vote counting has estimated that Georgian Dream won by 54.6 to 40.7 percent over National Movement. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) published their results of parallel vote tabulation (PVT). […]
Georgian election was competitive, OSCE finds
TBILISI, DFWatch – OSCE says Georgia made an important step in consolidating the conduct of democratic elections, but there are still some key issues left needing to address. The organization has the largest contingent of election observers here, under its Office for […]
Call for results to be annulled
TBILISI, DFWatch – The election result from several precincts in three districts of Georgia may be annulled, says the head of Central Election Commission (CEC). Due to tension at several precincts in Khashuri that were stormed by special police units yesterday, […]
Oppositon victory in Georgia election
TBILISI, DFWatch – Official results from the Central Election Commission at 06:20 am local time showed that the opposition Georgian Dream was leading with 54.61 percent ahead of the ruling National Movement party with 40.44 percent. Counting is still ongoing. These results […]
Police storm election precincts in Georgia
TBILISI, DFWatch – Special police forces stormed several election precincts in Georgia, seized the ballot box and rewrote the protocol, in order to prevent an opposition victory. Special units of the police have entered several election precincts in Khashuri, a small […]
Young lawyers found violations
TBILISI, DFWatch – Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association discovered many violations during the election October 1. At a press conference 21:00 GYLA detailed their findings. The organization has information that near two election precincts special forces are mobilized. […]
Opposition takes all seats from Tbilisi
TBILISI, DFWatch – According to Maestro TV’s exit poll, the opposition Georgian Dream coalition is set to win also in districts with the majoritarian (first-past-the-post) system in the capital: Mtatsimnda, Tbilisi – National movement candidate has 23 percent; Georgian […]
Violations continued during election day
TBILISI, DFWatch – Another series of violations are regularly reported through local non-government organizations, media outlets and social networks from all over the country in Monday’s parliamentary elections. The movement Multinational Georgia reports about twenty […]
Georgian leader concedes partial defeat
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili concedes that his National Movement party has been defeated in the parliamentary election in districts with the proportional system, but won in districts with majoritarian candidates. Saakashvili thanked people […]
Opposition predicted to win Georgian election
TBILISI, DFWatch – All the exit polls published after voting ended show that the opposition has won the election in Georgia. Also the pro-government TV channels show Georgian Dream winning. Rustavi 2’s exit poll show the following: Georgian Dream 51 percent, National […]
Ivanishvili has not voted
TBILISI, DFWatch – The leader of Georgia’s opposition coalition has not voted in Monday’s parliamentary election. Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of Georgian Dream, says he refuses to use his new constitutional right to vote, thereby adhering to a statement he made […]
Reports of violations
TBILISI, DFWatch — Local non-governmental organizations are reporting about different kinds of violations in Monday’s election. Transparency International Georgia (TI) reports that one of the main problems is that there are not enough ballot-papers and envelopes in […]
Historic Georgian election underway
TBILISI, DFWatch – In Georgia the most important election in recent history is underway. According to the Central Election Commission, there was a 25.5 voter turnout by 12:00. There have already been reports of violations. Many see the parliamentary election as a test […]
Ten month old’s tragic death seen as political
TBILISI, DFWatch – The kidnapping and killing of a 10 months old girl from an opposition activists’ family has pushed a strained electoral atmosphere towards the boiling point. A ten-month old infant was today found dead in a pitcher full of water after declared […]
61 000 local observers to follow election
TBILISI, DFWatch – An unprecedented 61 000 local observers will follow tomorrow’s parliamentary election, head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) says. There are more than 33 000 representatives of election subjects and representatives of political parties in […]