The Presidency Goes to the Georgian Dream candidate

Georgian Dream backed “independent” presidential candidate Salome Zourabichvili leads in the presidential run-off competing exit polls say. According to exit polls conducted by Edison Research and Gallop Zourabichvili leads with 55% and 58% of the votes respectively.

Watchdog organizations report no major violations that could impact the outcome. Transparency International Georgia (TI) said the voting process was held “in largely peaceful environment.” TI Georgia, which was represented at 300 precincts across Georgia, also said there were “70 minor and relatively serious” violations. Party activists and coordinators created “tense atmosphere” around the polling stations.

ISFED, which was represented at over 600 polling stations, said that “mobilization” of party coordinators was widespread and could equate to some undue influence on voters.

The watchdog organizations enumerate the cases of hindering work of elections watchdogs and breaching of voting secrecy among other violations in the voting process.