Tag Archives: Salome Zurabishvili

The Central Election Commission (CEC) approved on November 14 the final vote tally of the first round of presidential elections. According to the CEC protocol, 1,647,878 voters turned out at polling stations on October 28, representing 46.83% of registered voters. 53,847 ballots were annulled, a much higher figure than in the …

Chief of the General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, Major General Vladimer Chachibaia, weighed in on former military servicemen’s social media campaign against the ruling party-endorsed presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili. In a statement issued on November 13, Chachibaia stressed “any attempts to entangle” the army in political processes are “dangerous” and “go …

The opposition coalition led by the United National Movement (UNM) denied the allegations voiced by the ruling party-endorsed presidential candidate, Salome Zurabishvili, that persons making death threats against her and her family were “associated with UNM and its leaders.” “The United Opposition and its presidential candidate Grigol Vashadze unequivocally condemn all …

Salome Zurabishvili, the presidential candidate supported by the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG), said at a news briefing today that on November 9, 10 and 11 she and her children received death threats through text and voice messages. Zurabishvili claimed that the persons issuing threats were identifiable through their social …

Salome Zurabishvili, presidential hopeful backed by the ruling party, has resumed active campaigning today. She arrived at Atotsi village of the Kareli municipality, southwest of Tskhinvali, where the Russian occupation forces launched the construction of barb-wire fences. “I have arrived here to talk about my plans. I will be the President, …

Three leading election watchdogs – GYLA, TI Georgia and ISFED – believe that the upcoming runoffs will be “an important test for advancing and consolidating the Georgian democracy,” and call on the public officials to refrain from making statements that could trigger election-related violence ahead of the second round of presidential elections. …

Eleven electoral subjects registered the presidential elections raised GEL 2,866,488 in cash and non-monetary donations in the period from October 17 through October 28, according to the State Audit Office, an independent body in charge of the political finance monitoring. The State Audit Office reported that 97.65% of total donations …

The ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) is continuing talks on formulating its runoff strategy, four days after the GDDG-backed candidate Salome Zurabishvili has failed to capture support of the voters, finishing neck-in-neck with the opposition candidate Grigol Vashadze, of UNM-led coalition. Today, the ruling party leadership, including the GDDG leader …

Following the announcement of Salome Zurabishvili, supported by the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party, who pledged to take on UNM-backed Grigol Vashadze, Imedi TV, one of the major national broadcasters leaning towards the government, has made a special announcement, pledging to confront the United National Movement. “Pre-election period promises to …

The ruling party endorsed presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili says she will compete in the second round runoffs. She vows “not to let” Georgia fall “to Russia and Grigol Vashadze.” The candidate made the announcement in her first official press statement after the October 28 presidential elections, which put her neck-in-neck …

Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili wants Salome Zurabishvili to obtain the first round victory in the October 28 presidential elections. Ivanishvili made the remarks after Zurabishvili’s final campaign meeting on October 25. Speaking to reporters, GDDG leader Bidzina Ivanishvili said he hopes the upcoming elections will be held “peacefully, without incidents,” …

Eight electoral subjects registered for the October 28 presidential elections raised GEL 2,152,091 (USD 0.8 million) in monetary and non-monetary donations in the period from October 3 through October 16, according to the State Audit Office, an independent body in charge of the political finance monitoring. The State Audit Office reported that …

Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili gave his second televised interview since his return as the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party. Ivanishvili spoke to journalists of three leading broadcasters – Rustavi 2, Imedi and TV Pirveli. The 140-minute interview was aired late on October 23, with Bidzina Ivanishvili outlining …

As the ruling party presented its own poll results favoring its own candidate yesterday, the divergence in public opinion poll results came sharply into focus, drawing attention to the use of polling in electioneering. GDDG “internal” Poll The ruling party-endorsed candidate, Salome Zurabishvili, is set to win the October 28 …

Nine electoral subjects registered for the October 28 presidential elections raised GEL 1,277,515 (USD 485,767) in monetary and non-monetary donations in the period from September 12 through October 2, according to the State Audit Office, an independent body in charge of the political finance monitoring. According to the State Audit …

Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, who has emerged as the leading campaigner for the ruling party-endorsed presidential candidate, slammed the director of the opposition-leaning Rustavi 2 TV, Nika Gvaramia, for his “fascist,” and “hysterical” remarks on Salome Zurabishvili. Kobakhidze made the statement at a special press briefing on October 8, three …

A group of fifteen local civil society organizations released a statement on October 4, condemning remarks of the ruling party-endorsed presidential candidate, Salome Zurabishvili, as “xenophobic”. Zurabishvili remarked at a campaign meeting in the Armenian-majority Ninotsminda Municipality of  Samtskhe-Javakheti region, that ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili “granted citizenship to a lot of Turks, …

Less than a month before the October 28 presidential elections, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party and former prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, voiced his support to the GDDG-endorsed candidate Salome Zurabishvili. Ivanishvili made the announcement at a gathering of party leadership on October 1, convened for marking the …

Twelve electoral subjects registered for the October 28 presidential elections fundraised GEL 837,307 (USD 336,267) in monetary and non-monetary donations in the period from August 1 through September 11, according to the State Audit Office, an independent institution in charge of the political finance monitoring. According to the State Audit Office, 94% (GEL 791,157) of total donations was received by …

Georgian Patriarch Ilia II calls on the Orthodox clergy to refrain from voicing political statements ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. The statement follows a wave of criticism against Salome Zurabishvili, whose presidential candidacy has been endorsed by the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG). “Unfortunately, with elections approaching, some clergy …