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
11:50 – Irakli Kupradze, Lelo–For Georgia’s Tbilisi mayoral candidate, votes
Irakli Kupradze, the joint Tbilisi mayoral candidate from Lelo–Strong Georgia and Gakharia For Georgia, cast his vote and called on citizens to go to the polls.
“If you want to leave the past behind, if you want to free the capital from corruption and injustice, if you want this city and country to be without political prisoners, without corruption, injustice, lawlessness, and incompetence,” Kupradze said with reporters after voting, “then you must go to your polling stations and vote for Georgia’s future.”
11:35 – Riot police spotted near Liberty Square
Opposition TV channel Pirveli reported riot police units moving around Tbilisi’s Liberty Square, near the Parliament. According to TV Pirveli, the officers have also been mobilized inside the Tbilisi City Council (Sakrebulo) building. Riot police are reportedly stationed near the Parliament and the Government Administration as well.
11:05 – Lelo’s Badri Japaridze votes
Badri Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Lelo-Strong Georgia opposition coalition, has cast his ballot.
“Of course, I voted for the Georgian people to regain control over their city’s governance in Tbilisi – and this must happen everywhere, for we must be active. Without activity, determination, and perseverance, change will not come,” Japaridze told reporters after voting. “That’s why I want to call on everyone to use their most effective weapon – their vote – so that we can achieve the goal of the Georgian people: to take back their country.”
11:03 – MIA warns rally organizers and participants
The Interior Ministry said police units had been mobilized across the capital to “protect public safety and order,” warning: “We call on the rally organizers and participants to hold their assembly within the framework of Georgian legislation, obey lawful police orders, and not obstruct officers in carrying out their professional duties.”
“Every violation of the law will be met with an appropriate legal response,” the ministry added.
10:45 – Irakli Kobakhidze votes
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze cast his ballot in Vake, central Tbilisi.
“It is obvious to everyone what and who I voted for,” Kobakhidze told reporters after voting. “Of course, I voted for peace, for more prosperity, for further development of our country and our capital, and for the only party that has maintained peace in our country and ensured progress and development throughout all these years.”
“I voted for the only mayoral candidate who can bring more prosperity to our capital, and for a very dignified majoritarian candidate in the Vake district,” he added.
10:30 – CEC: Voter turnout 7.85% at 10:00
275,948 citizens, 7.85% of the total number of eligible voters, have cast their ballots by 10:00, two hours after the polling stations were opened, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The highest turnout (13.4%) was recorded in Racha-Lechkhumi, the lowest (7.64%) in Kvemo Kartli. Read more details here.
10:01 – Shalva Papuashvili votes
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has cast his ballot in Tbilisi.
“Today is the day of democratic elections, and every citizen has a civic duty to make their own choice,” Papuashvili told reporters after voting. “Today is an opportunity for our citizens in every municipality, every city, and every village to elect their own representatives.”
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 force 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.