Ruling Party Says Elections Underway in Normal Conditions

Davit Bakradze, the number one in the ruling party’s list of MP candidates, said elections were held in normal conditions and blamed the opposition of “artificially straining the situation.”

“Elections are being held in a normal condition. On all those polling stations where the opposition is not straining situation artificially elections are ongoing very well,” Bakradze said. “Of course there are violations and we are informed about it from local and international observers. When our reaction is needed we react on those violations.”

“I think that majority of the population will agree that elections in Georgia are being held in normal conditions and I want to call on the opposition to refrain from artificially straining the situation and to allow voters to cast ballot in calm atmosphere.

Davit Gamkrelidze, head of the opposition nine-party bloc’s campaign, said earlier on Wednesday that the authorities were holding these elections in close cooperation with “criminal bosses,” accompanied with widespread intimidation and pressure on opposition activists.

Davit Bakradze said that he would not “tolerate” accusation of having links with criminals from a person – Davit Gamkrelidze – who, as Bakradze said, himself was protecting criminals and who did not vote for a law against organized crime. He also called on Gamkrelidze to give up “hysteria” and engage in “a constructive dialogue.”