Georgian opposition leaders urge Dream to "peacefully transfer power"

Honorary Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili voted in the elections to the Parliament of Georgia. Ivanishvili came to the polling station with his wife Ekaterina Khvedelidze and sons Tsotne and Bera.

"Let me remind you, the war is next door. This country, which manages the agency, has given an urgent task to somehow involve Georgia in military operations. I assure you, it will not take long, it will happen instantly and, instead of us taking care of the development of the country, we will get a catastrophe and devastation," Ivanishvili said after voting.

According to him, the victory of the "Dream" will bring the country "a qualitatively new society in which there will be no polarization."

"The choice is very simple. Either we choose a government that will serve you, the Georgian people, the Georgian society, our Homeland, take care of the country, or we choose a foreign agency that will perform only the tasks of a foreign country," he said.

In an interview after the vote, opposition leaders urged supporters to vote for a European future, and advised the Georgian Dream to prepare "for a peaceful transfer of power."

"Today is a decisive day that will determine the next decades. Please go to the elections, take part, we need as much activity as possible in order to gain a great perspective," said Georgy Vashadze, leader of the Agmashenebeli Strategy party.

The leader of Girchi — More Freedom, Zurab Japaridze, said that he voted for Georgia's future in the EU and NATO.

"I am sure that the citizens of this country will make a choice that will eventually lead this country to the European Union, to NATO, and in 5-6 years this country will become a full member of the European Union… I voted for it and I think that the absolute majority of Georgian citizens will make the same choice," Japaridze said.

His partner in the Coalition for Change, Akhali leader Nika Gvaramia, says he voted "for change, Georgia's European future, coalition government and rejection of the past."

In general, according to the CEC, the parliamentary elections in The demonstrations are calm, but "small incidents" have been recorded at several sites. Video footage of clashes at polling stations of supporters of "Dream" and "nationals" are published on social networks. In addition, photos of queues at polling stations in Paris and London are published. However, the Central Election Commission of Georgia has so far recognized only one violation — the fact of issuing two ballots to a voter at once at one of the local polling stations. At the same time, the My Voice organization claims that its observers identified 25 such cases by 10.00 (9.00 Moscow time).

Ex-President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili also voted in the elections. Initially, Margvelashvili was a protege of the Georgian Dream, but by the end of his presidential term he joined the opposition. Margvelashvili said he saw queues at polling stations.

"It means in There is only one thing for Georgia: when so many voters come, it is a clear signal that the government is changing. And today, together with the Georgian people, I have issued a ticket to this government to where they belong — in The Russian Federation," the ex-president said.

Georgia is a parliamentary country, that is, whoever wins the majority in the elections will also form the country's government.

There are 150 seats in the parliament, they will be distributed among the parties according to the number of votes cast for them. The CEC has registered 18 parties. The threshold for entering parliament is 5%.

The Georgian Dream is in favor of joining the EU, but with the preservation of the country's sovereignty, traditional values and the Orthodox faith. Also, the "Dream" is against imposing sanctions on Russia and opening a second front to help Ukraine. The party calls ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili and the United National Movement founded by him guilty of unleashing the 2008 war of the year.

In September, the founder of "Dream" Bidzina Ivanishvili promised that if he won the elections, the authorities would "find the strength" to apologize for the 2008 war.

In these elections, the party is in coalition with the People's Power movement.

The main opponent of the ruling party is the United National Movement. He acts in a coalition with "European Georgia" and "Agmashenebeli Strategy". The current leader of the UNM is Tina Bokuchava, a member of parliament. He stands for integration with Europe and for joining all Western sanctions against Russia. If he wins the election, he promises to immediately begin negotiations on joining the EU and repeal the law on foreign agents.

One electoral list is "Girchi — more freedom", "Droa" and "Akhali", which were founded by former members of the "National Movement", as well as the Republican Party and the public organization "Activists for the Future".

The party "Lelo for Georgia", "For the People", "Citizens", established by the founders of TBC Bank, and the political movement of representatives of non-governmental organizations "Freedom Square" also joined forces for the elections.

Another bloc is the parties holding conservative views and advocating the establishment of relations with Russia. Among them are the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia, Conservative Movement / Alt-Info, Georgian Idea, Christian Democratic Movement and others.