Parliamentary polls in Georgia on October 1 were seen as a key test of competing visions of the country's political course. Follow the elections and their aftermath with RFE/RL.
"People are mobilized, people will show up in large numbers. We expect high turnout and we expect good results for democracy, for freedom, and for the future of our country." - Mikheil Sakaashvili speaking to Reuters in Tbilisi today after casting his ballot.
07:511.10.2012
"[I expect] nothing good, but maybe it will get a bit better. Maybe. But I'm not sure. The most important thing is that disaffected people should not stir up any unrest. Everything has stabilized in the country more or less, but if there are those who are dissatisfied [with the election results], they shouldn't provoke any clashes," voter Elene Kvlividze tells Reuters.
07:521.10.2012
Correction to tweets about last PEC and shortage in ballot papers. It was #40/34 and not #40/36. #gvote
Via RFE/RL's Georgian Service: elderly voters are having trouble voting at polling place N1 because the ballot boxes are located up a couple flights of stairs.
08:011.10.2012
Georgia -- Inmates wait before receiving their ballots during the parliamentary election at a polling station at Gldani prison No. 8 in Tbilisi.
08:041.10.2012
Saburtalo (dt.29) 3 women sitting in a car recording a list of which UNM supporters are arriving #gvote
"We are the team which you can trust. We are the team that will take the power into our hands and use it for the benefit of the people. We should win in elections." - Bidzina Ivanishvili
Georgia -- Leader of the opposition Georgian Dream coalition Bidzina Ivanishvili (C) addresses the media near his wife Eka Khvedelidze (R), who voted at a polling station during the parliamentary election, in Tbilisi.
08:121.10.2012
Worrying. Embassy source: "there are already so many violations, enough for both sides to call the elections rigged" #gvote
The International Society of Fair Elections and Democracy releases a first report on today's elections. Thus far, they report 12 violations. Read the whole thing here.
08:181.10.2012
Journalists Unauthorized to Conduct Photo and Video Shooting at Special Precincts | Media.Ge media.ge/en/stories/jou… via @media_ge
