Georgian Politicians Urge the Public to Vote

TBILISI- Georgian politicians have put their “get out the vote” campaigns into overdrive one day before key parliamentary elections in the small former Soviet republic of 3.7 million people.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili urged citizens to participate in Saturday’s elections and stressed the importance of a peaceful and transparent voting process.

Kvirikashvili was quick to point out that the campaign season has been relatively peaceful but acknowledged that the attempted assassination of lawmaker Givi Targamadze from the opposition United National Movement on Tuesday was a stain on the upcoming elections.

"What took place several days ago is truly saddening. The investigation into the case remains ongoing, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. But aside from that unfortunate incident, the mood on the campaign trail has been peaceful," Kvirikashvili said.

Parliamentary Chair David Usupashvili also urged citizens to take an active part in the elections, saying Saturday’s poll results must be respected by all of the participating political parties.

Usupashvili also took the time to praise the country’s atmosphere of free political expression during the run-up to Saturday’s elections, saying Georgian citizens were expressing their free will as a democratic country by going to the polls and casting the ballots for the party of their choice.

David Bakradze, the former Parliamentary Chairman of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM), said he is confident that the UNM will come out on top after tomorrow’s elections.

‘We will win the elections, and the country will have a government that has visited every third Georgian family and knew about their problems. It is crucial that we understand and empathize with the voters over the next four years.”

By Natia Liparteliani

Edited by Nicholas Waller