Anxiety looms over Georgia’s election as voters forged ballots

With such excessive stakes, voting kicked off in a tense setting.

Election observers, resembling ISFED, have reported three alleged instances of vote-buying, and native media retailers have reported an incident involving a bodily confrontation at one of many polling stations. According to native publication Publika, an opposition activist was crushed.

A video circulating on-line reveals a person, recognized as a ruling party consultant, stuffing a poll field with dozens of ballots at one of many polling stations in Marneuli in southern Georgia.

The nation’s Central Election Commission reported voter turnout at 9.27 p.c as of 10 a.m. Tbilisi time.

“I’m assured nearly all of the inhabitants will select a European future for Georgia,” stated opposition United National Movement party chief Tina Bokuchava after casting her vote.

The founding father of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, used the second to explain the opposition as “warmongers,” aiming to tug Georgia into conflict with Russia.