Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgian Dream, Lelo to Contest October Municipal By-Elections
Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream and opposition Strong Georgia/Lelo are the only parties registered to contest October 3 by-elections for vacant seats in four municipal councils, the Central Election Commission said.
The vote will take place in Vani, Tsalka, Dmanisi and Akhmeta, where four majoritarian council seats became vacant before the end of their terms. All four former members were affiliated with Georgian Dream.
The parties, assigned ballot numbers 41 and 9, have until September 3 to submit candidates. Seven polling stations will operate, with electronic voting equipment at four and the traditional voting system at three.
Other opposition parties appear set to boycott the election, continuing their refusal to participate in the 2025 local elections. Lelo is the only opposition force from the main parliamentary opposition groups to have registered for the vote.
Georgian Citizen Released After Detention Near Tskhinvali Occupation Line
Lasha Gulitashvili, a resident of Perevi village in Georgia's Sachkhere municipality, was released on August 19 after being detained by Russian occupation forces near the dividing line with the occupied Tskhinvali region, Georgia's State Security Service said.
Gulitashvili was detained on August 17 near Perevi. The State Security Service said he was now free and back in territory controlled by the Georgian central government.
The de facto security committee of the occupied Tskhinvali region said Gulitashvili had crossed what it described as the "state border" near the village of Sinaguri on August 17, saying the crossing was "without prior intent."
The de facto authorities said Gulitashvili was fined and "expelled from the territory of South Ossetia" on August 19.
Georgia's State Security Service said the government activated the hotline mechanism and other available channels to secure his release.
Russian and de facto forces of the Tskhinvali region regularly detain Georgian citizens along and near the occupation line.
