Ex-Defense Minister Okruashvili Loses Court Battle for Gori Mayoral Candidacy

Court of Appeals upheld ruling of a lower court and a decision of the Central Election Commission, banning ex-defense minister Irakli Okruashvili to run for a mayor of the town of Gori in the June 15 local elections.

He was declined to be registered as a candidate because of a failure to meet two-year residency requirement.

But Okruashvili wants to remain in race indirectly as he plans to name on May 2 one of his close allies as a candidate, who will run for Gori mayoral office instead of him.