Live Updates: Local Elections and Protest
Georgia’s October 4 local elections take place across Georgia amid a partial opposition boycott, scant credible observation, continued repression by Georgian Dream authorities, jailings of protesters and opposition members, and a crackdown on independent media and watchdogs. The vote comes approximately a year after the disputed parliamentary elections, and just 10 months into the non-stop protests that erupted in response to Georgian Dream’s announcement to halt EU integration. A parallel mass rally has been scheduled at 4 pm at the parliament in Tbilisi with the stated aim of “peacefully overthrowing” the Georgian Dream government.
Below, we offer live updates as things unfold on one of Georgia’s most tensely anticipated days in recent months. All entries are in Tbilisi time.
For Context:
- Backgrounder: Georgia’s October 4 Half-Elections
- Georgia Anticipates October 4 Rally Amid Rising Tensions, Discontent
- Repression in Numbers
October 4, 2025
09:40 – Kakha Kaladze votes
The incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who is seeking a third term for the ruling Georgian Dream party, cast his ballot.
“The only power that can actually maintain peace in the country today is Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia,” Kaladze told reporters outside a polling station in Saburtalo. “The only force that can continue the city’s development is Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia,” he added.
Like Ivanishvili, Kaladze also left without responding to questions from journalists.
09:05 – Ivanishvili votes in Tbilisi with family
Georgian Dream founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili cast his ballot at a polling station in downtown Tbilisi, accompanied by his wife, Ekaterine Khvedelidze, and son, Tsotne.
“Today is another important day in our country’s recent history,” Ivanishvili told reporters after voting, calling the election “significant” and “very interesting.” He said the “greatest achievement” of Georgian Dream’s 13 years in power was that both the party and society had developed “critical thinking” and learned to distinguish “white from black.” “No matter what kind of statements are made today by our opponents, if they are not objective, they will not trigger a reaction from the public,” he added.
Ivanishvili left without taking questions.
08:00 – Polls open in 3,061 precincts across Georgia
Polls have opened across Georgia for the municipal vote. 3,513,818 Georgian citizens are eligible to vote in 3,061 polling stations, according to the Central Election Commission. Among them, 47,000 are first-time voters. Voting will be conducted electronically in 2,284 out of all 3,061 polling stations, covering 3,130,348 voters. The voters in the remaining 777 precincts will be casting their ballots in the traditional procedure, including 10 in the penitentiary facilities. (Read more here)
12:31 – Patriarchate: Church backs peace, distances from radical calls
The Georgian Patriarchate stated hours before the opening of polls that the “Georgian Orthodox Church, as a unifying force for the nation, cannot be portrayed as a political actor.”
It added that the Church “has always been and will continue to be the supporter of peace and Christian values, and distances itself from radical calls and actions that could fuel confrontation.”
Elections are held so people can express their will,” the statement said, after dismissing as “wrong” attempts to involve clergy in election-related tensions.