Dmanisi Mayor: Municipal Council Elections Important as Every Community Needs Local Representation

Voting is underway in a municipal council by-election in Dmanisi, southern Georgia, as part of by-elections being held across four municipalities in the country.

A polling station serving voters from the villages of Velispiri and Ganakhleba opened at 8:00 a.m., with election officials reporting that voting began without disruptions and has continued in a calm environment.

Two candidates are contesting the seat: Irakli Sarsevanidze, representing the ruling Georgian Dream party, and Vazha Noniashvili, representing the opposition Strong Georgia–Lelo coalition.

Dmanisi Mayor Koba Muradashvili said municipal council elections are particularly important because individual villages and communities need direct representation in local government.

“The electoral process at polling station No. 35 in Dmanisi’s 24th electoral district is proceeding in a calm environment. Voting procedures are being fully observed, and voter participation is noticeable,” Muradashvili said.

“Municipal council elections are very important because every village and every community needs to have its own representative on the municipal council. Our candidate, Irakli Sarsevanidze, is a young candidate who will be the voice of our residents on the Dmanisi Municipal Council,” he added.

Muradashvili’s comments regarding Sarsevanidze reflect his position as a local official supporting the Georgian Dream candidate.

Municipal council by-elections are being held on Saturday in four Georgian municipalities Vani, Tsalka, Dmanisi and Akhmeta to fill seats on their respective local councils.