Saakashvili: Calm Elections Crucial

President Saakashvili said “well-organized and calm” elections would be of crucial importance for Georgia in the light of “pressure” and “blackmail” exerted on the country.

“I want everybody to understand throughout the country that a very great part of the international community is watching closely these elections, including those people, who are our friends and also those people, who wish us bad,” Saakashvili told journalists after casting ballot in one of the precincts in Tbilisi.

“Therefore, I want to ask my compatriots to show extreme discipline and calmness in order to disappoint those, who wish us bad and to make happy our friends,” he continued. “Georgia remains in a very difficult international situation now. Under such a pressure and blackmail holding of an organized and calm elections will be equal to passing an important test by the Georgian democracy, Georgian people and it will be a surprise for the rest of international society, which is watching us.”

“I want to call on everybody to support international and local observers as much as possible, to cooperate with them, to prevent any violations, because it is the issue of our national security, dignity and future. When you ask me what I think about the elections, my answer is that everything will be fine, I am absolutely confident in this. Luck will be on Georgia’s side.”

He cast ballot together with his Dutch wife, Sandra Roelofs. “I want to say that this is an important event in the life of my family because just recently Sandra became a citizen of Georgia. This privilege was granted to her by Nino Burjanadze, when she was acting president. Therefore, this is the first time she is casting a ballot in Georgia since she arrived in Georgia almost 15 years ago,” Saakashvili said.