Opposition, Local Authorities Clash in Kvemo Kartli

Dozens injured today as a result of a clash between the supporters of the opposition National Movement party and the local authorities in the Bolnisi district of the Kvemo Kartli region in southern Georgia.

Mikheil Saakashvili, the chairman of the Tbilisi City Council and the leader of National Movement, intended to visit Bolnisi for election campaigning, however they were blocked at the entrance of Bolnisi by the local authorities, police and supporters of the presidential-backed election bloc For New Georgia.

Reports say that the clash led to shooting as well.

The Kvemo Kartli region, which is predominately populated with ethnic Azerbaijanis, was governed by the Shevardnadze’s loyalist Levan Mamaladze for past nine years and was a foothold for the authorities during the elections.

Levan Mamaladze resigned from the governor’s post last week, as he intends to run for MP in the Bolnisi single-mandate constituency.

He will be contended by the nominee of the National Movement party Kamal Muradkhanov. Another opposition bloc the Burjanadze-Democrats also nominated its candidacy for the MP in Bolnisi on September 24, when the leader of the bloc Nino Burjanadze visited the region.

Later Mikheil Saakashvili could enter Bolnisi and held a short meeting with the local population.