Georgians vote in main local polls after Saakashvili’s arrest | New

Voters vote in closely watched municipal elections the day after the former president’s arrest.

Georgian voters cast their ballot in closely watched municipal elections, a day after former president and opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili returned from exile and was arrested.

The detention of the country’s main opposition figure upped the ante in Saturday’s polls, seen as a key test for the Georgian Dream Party, the increasingly unpopular ruling party.

Saakashvili, 53, founder of Georgia’s main opposition party, the United National Movement (MNU), said on Friday he was back from Ukraine, where he heads a Ukrainian government agency leading the reforms.

Saakashvili escorted by police upon arrival at Rustavi prison [Georgian Interior Ministry/Handout via Reuters]

The flamboyant pro-Western reformer was arrested soon after on a conviction in absentia in 2018 for abuse of power. He denies committing wrongdoing and denounced his six-year prison sentence as politically motivated.

Robin Forestier-Walker of Al Jazeera, in a report from the capital, Tbilisi, said Saakashvili’s “surprise” return from exile and his subsequent arrest had eclipsed the polls.

“Many people are now wondering if there will be a significant change in the turnout with those who support the former president motivated to step out after hearing his words yesterday. He called on Georgians to vote decisively.” , said Forestier-Walker.

My letter from prison
My dear associates and my Georgian community.

When I left Kiev and came here, I knew I would most likely be arrested, with false verdicts fabricated on Putin’s orders. No country in the world, except Russia, recognizes this sentence … pic.twitter.com/ffA8VPvhz6

– Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) October 2, 2021

In a message posted to Twitter on Saturday accompanied by a photo of a letter to prison supporters, Saakashvili said: “I want to ask all of you to go to the elections so that no votes are lost.”

He added, “My freedom and, more importantly, Georgia’s freedom depends entirely on your actions and your fighting ability. “

Before his arrest, he posted a video message on Facebook calling on his supporters to take to the streets against the government.

Founded by powerful billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Dream has been the ruling party since 2012.

Critics accused him of using criminal prosecution to punish political opponents and journalists.

Interpol refused Tbilisi’s requests to issue a Red Notice against Saakashvili.