Georgian Dream party founder casts vote in Tbilisi

Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party, cast his vote in Tbilisi.

Ivanishvili emphasized the importance of the electoral choice facing Georgian citizens.

“We have a very simple decision to make: either we choose a government that will serve the people of Georgia and take care of our country, or we choose an agent of a foreign state that will only follow orders from abroad,” he told journalists, Caliber.Az reports citing Georgian media.

He also highlighted the regional context, noting, “You know there is a war in our neighbourhood. The party currently in power has a pressing agenda to somehow involve Georgia in these hostilities.”

Polling stations have opened across Georgia for the parliamentary elections.

Voting will take place from 08:00 to 20:00 local time (coinciding with Baku time).

Citizens can cast their votes at 3,111 polling stations, with 67 stations set up abroad. Approximately 3.5 million voters are registered, including a record number of over 95,000 citizens living outside Georgia who will participate in the elections.

This election marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first to utilize electronic ballot boxes at 74 per cent of polling stations, covering nearly 90 per cent of voters. In addition to the electronic voting devices, voter verification technology will also be implemented.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) is expected to begin publishing initial results within two hours after the polls close. Local TV channels plan to report exit poll results immediately following the conclusion of voting.

By Vafa Guliyeva