Audit Says Presidential Candidates Spent GEL 14 mln on First Round Campaign

The State Audit Office (SAO) of Georgia says the total expenses of political parties and independent candidates in the period from August 1 to October 28 amounted to GEL 13,839,319 ($5.19 m).

The SAO report reads that ruling Georgian Dream-backed presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili spent GEL 6,351,949 ($2.38 m) on the first round campaign, while the opposition party United National Movement spent GEL 1,133,536 ($425.501) and the parliamentary minority European Georgia- GEL 1,026,784 ($385,429).

In the reporting period, the cost of advertising by political parties and independent candidates in total amounted to GEL 7,015,469 ($2.63 m).

In particular, Salome Zurabishvili spent GEL 5,235,606 ($1.96m) on advertising. Out of this only TV advertising cost her GEL 2,354,382 ($883,777).

The United National Movement spent GEL 633,245 ($237,704) on advertising and on TV advertising – 472,210 GEL ($177,256).

By Thea Morrison