Ana Mikeladze Spokesperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia presented preliminary results of the Presidential Election to the public according to 3 702 electoral precincts.

“As of now, data of almost all 3702 electoral precincts is counted and summary protocols are available on the CEC website. Vote counting procedures are underway in three polling stations in the United States of America at this moment ", stated Ana Mikeladze.

The preliminary results of the Second Round of Presidential Election of Georgia are as follows:

№5 Grigol Vashadze - 40.46%, (779 614 votes)

№48 Salome Zourabichvili - 59.54%, (1 147 106 votes)

With reference to preliminary results of elections abroad, including polling stations opened in Afghanistan, out of 57 electoral precincts, votes of 54 electoral precincts are counted, and the votes received are as follows:

№5 Grigol Vashadze - 64. 27 %,  (5 216 votes)

№48 Salome Zourabichvili - 35.73%, (2 900 votes)

“It is noteworthy that the second round is distinguished by high voter turnout. Vote counting process went in the polling stations according to the law. Proxies of electoral subjects and observers were able to freely to monitor the vote counting process. Following the drawing up summary protocols and completion of all official procedures at electoral precinct envisaged by the law, protocols were being passed to the District Election Commission (DECs). DECs were uploading summary protocols in earliest possible time into a special program.

By evening 22:00, publicizing of the protocols received by the CEC was already launched on the CEC webpage. The Election Administration (EA) upon completion of the polling process, in a few hours, namely before 24:00 introduced the public with preliminary results based on 1181 precincts. Precinct summary protocols were promptly loaded throughout the night on the CEC website and as protocols so updated preliminary results were available to any interested person”, CEC Spokesperson said.

Ana Mikeladze also informed the media on complaints submitted at DECs. According to Spokesperson, as of now, approximately 307 complaints are filed at DECs. “Majority of complaints filed at DECs were filed during the day at electoral precincts. Most of the complaints referred to procedural shortcomings and the main request were to impose disciplinary liabilities against commission members. However, at the DECs were also filed complaints with other requests. There are certain complaints concerning results at PEC. All complaints will be responded by election commissions accordingly, “Ms Mikeladze stated. 

At the end of the news briefing, the CEC Spokesperson thanked all electoral stakeholders, including domestic and international observer organizations, the media and the voters for their active involvement in the elections.

Tamar Zhvania, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia shared with society the information about the preliminary results of the second round of Presidential Election. Ms. Zhvania presented the results according to 1181 (32%) counted election precincts.

According to the CEC Chairperson, preliminary election results stand as follows:

№5 Grigol Vashadze - 195 305 votes (43%)

№48 Salome Zourabichvili - 262 826 (57%)

“First of all, I would like to thank each Georgian voter, who actively participated in election and cast vote. The voter turnout was very high, almost two million voters were ready to express their will. In addition, I would like to thank all electoral stakeholders, local and international observer organizations, which were committed ensuring transparency of the electoral process and during the whole day were supporting the entire electoral process. I would like to express my gratitude towards the media representatives for their great work. I would like to also thank each member of Election Administration for the hard work they have performed, which is still in the process”- stated Tamar Zhvania.

As the CEC Chairperson underlined, all media outlets, society will have an opportunity to receive updated information on preliminary election results from the Central Election Commission.

“District Election Commissions still receive the summary protocols. The protocols are being uploaded only after completing all procedures by election precincts. After submitting summary protocols to the DECs and uploading the protocols in the system, the official preliminary election results are counted. However, there are several election precincts, where the process is ongoing and we are waiting for the summary protocols. Accordingly, during the night we will update results and you will have an opportunity to gradually receive preliminary results”- stated CEC Chairperson.

Tamar Zhvania also talked about the complaints submitted to the DECs. As of now, 289 complaints are submitted. “Complaints are being submitted according to the certain rule. Within two days after drawing up the summary protocols, they can be appealed at the DECs. DECs discuss the complaints within the two-day term. During the E-day, Election Administration was ready to ensure relevant response to any procedural or any other type of malpractices. All complaints having considerable grounds, and not only, will be discussed and the relevant decision will be made within the term defined by the law”- stated CEC Chairperson at the news briefing.

Strasbourg, 26.11.2018 – Andrej Hunko (Germany, UEL) and Reina de Bruijn-Wezeman (Netherlands, ALDE), members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), will travel to Georgia from 27 to 29 November to observe the conduct of the second round of the presidential election, alongside observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, European Parliament and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

They are due to meet the two candidates, the Central Election Commission, and representatives of the media, before observing the ballot on Wednesday 28 November.

A joint press conference is scheduled on Thursday 29 November at 2.30 p.m. at the Biltmore Hotel, Grand Royal Ballroom, 29 Rustaveli Ave, Tbilisi.

Tamar Zhvania, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia presented to the society preliminary results of the Presidential Election according to 512 counted election precincts.

“We would like to share preliminary results of Presidential Election according to more than 500 counted election precincts, which are already reflected in the CEC results. I would like to underline that the protocols were immediately uploaded, became public and available for everyone. Before announcing the preliminary election results, I would like to thank each voter who participated in elections and was an active voter; I would like to thank those electoral stakeholders who took responsibility to support the electoral process.

As for the preliminary election data, at this stage the CEC receives summary protocols uploaded by the District Election Commissions and I would like to once again underline that these results are immediately published at the CEC special website www.results.cec.gov.ge. It is also important that, after announcing these preliminary results, we will gradually update the data and more summary protocols will be available for public” – stated Tamar Zhvania.

The preliminary results according to 512 counted election precincts (13% of the total number of all election precincts) are as follows:

A 25-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), headed by Andrej Hunko (Germany, UEL), will travel to Georgia from 26 to 29 October to observe the conduct of the presidential election alongside observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, European Parliament, NATO Parliamentary Assembly and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The delegation will meet candidates, the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, and representatives of civil society and the media, before observing the ballot on 28 October.

A joint press conference is scheduled on Monday 29 October at 2.30 p.m. in the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, Tbilisi (location to be confirmed).
 

Up to 2,000 protesters attended a rally in Kyiv on Nov. 27 in support of early parliamentary elections and ex-Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s newly-created political movement, called the Movement of New Forces. Saakashvili resigned as governor of Odesa Oblast on Nov. 7, accusing President Petro Poroshenko of blocking his efforts to reduce corruption in the region’s law enforcement bodies, civil service and customs – a claim denied by the president’s representatives. Saakashvili later announced plans to launch a political party in an effort to come to power and replace Ukraine’s political establishment.
The speakers at the rally drew parallels with their movement and the 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, which ousted ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, and used EuroMaidan slogans.
The place where the rally was held, the crossing of Hrushevsky Street and Muzeiny Alley, was the scene of violent clashes during the revolution in January 2014. It is also close to the office of Saakashvili’s movement.
“There are so many of us here in this place where citizens took power into their own hands three years ago,” said Denys Brodsky, a former reformist head of the National Civil Service Agency and moderator of the rally. “Right here the nation woke up… Your presence here proves that the Maidan’s cause has not been accomplished. Time is up – the last winter of this parliament is at hand.”
Saakashvili also alluded to Vyacheslav Chornovil, a leader of Ukraine’s 1990s independence movement with whom he had been acquainted, since the rally was held in front of a monument to him.
“We are launching a movement that will change the course of our country’s history,” Saakashvili said. “The oligarchic parliament does not reflect the people’s will, contradicts Ukraine’s national interests and threatens the future of our children.”
He called for changing the electoral law to make it easier for non-oligarchic parties to get into parliament, replacing the discredited Central Election Commission, abolishing parliamentary immunity from prosecution and holding snap parliamentary elections.
“(Those in power) know that a wave is rising that will wipe them from the face of the earth and will release the nation from their tentacles,” Saakashvili said.
He also argued that the fate of both Ukraine and Europe depended on whether the nation got rid of its corrupt elite and carried out reforms.
“Not only Ukraine’s independence is at stake but the freedom of the whole of Europe,” Saakashvili said. “Today Ukraine is an outpost of the free world.
The platform of Saakashvili’s movement, as announced by him, includes “uncompromising reforms, zero tolerance for corruption, a total purge of state institutions, jailing thieves in government, freeing the people and businesses from the regulatory burden, a steep cut in taxes and simplifying tax collection.” Other aspects include “fundamental judicial reform, radical liberalization of the old oligarchic economy, the reform of education, healthcare, and social policy and introducing law and order – at a lightning speed, uncompromisingly and – if necessary – very severely,” he said.
Yulia Marushevska, a Saakashvili ally and ex-head of Odesa Oblast’s customs, also spoke at the protest. She argued that “unfortunately corruption in this country is spearheaded by the president.” President Petro Poroshenko has denied the accusations.
Nazar Nagiev, a veteran of the war with Russia who attended the rally, told the Kyiv Post that “nothing is changing in this country.” “That’s why we decided to support him,” he said. We’re hoping for something new.” He also jokingly suggested sending the whole of the Ukrainian parliament as soldiers to the war zone. “Let them gobble worm-eaten porridge for half a year,” he said. “We, the war veterans, will drive all these scoundrels out.”