Georgia’s Opposition Leaders Cast Votes in Highly Contested Election

TBILISI – The leaders of Georgia’s various opposition parties cast their votes and urged the population to head to the ballot boxes and make their voices heard in today’s parliamentary elections

Sandra Roelofs, the Dutch-born number two in the opposition United National Movement’s (UNM) party list and the estranged wife of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, has already voted at the polling station 18 in Tbilisi.

“I have voted for the peaceful force which will begin working hard from tomorrow and fulfil its promises to the people. I am confident that everybody will also make the right choice,” Roelofs said.

David Usupashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament and leader of the Republican Party, cast his vote with his wife, former Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli. Khidasheli is the majoritarian candidate in the municipality of Zestafoni in Georgia’s Imereti region. 

Ex-Defense Minister and Free Democrat party leader Irakli Alasania cast his ballot in the central Georgian town of Gori. 

“I voted for a better future…For a better Court and a better economy,” Alasania said. 

The opera-singer-turned-opposition-leader of the State for the People coalition, Paata Burchuladze, said his choice came down to voting “for freedom and against poverty.”

“I want to ask everyone in the country –come out of your houses and vote for a better future for the next four years,” said Burchuladze.

The leader of the staunchly pro-Russian Democratic Movement Nino Burjanadze said she “voted for a united Georgia, one without wire fences or foreign troops. I voted for the country's economic development, strength and a bright future.”

By Thea Morrison

Edited by Nicholas Waller