President Giorgi Margvelashvili has condemned violence outside a polling station in the Zugdidi municipality in which some of the leaders and activists of the opposition UNM party were beaten by supporters of the ruling GDDG party.
 
“Such incidents have no winners; there are only victims,” the President said in a statement read out by his spokesperson Eka Mishveladze. “Voters and Georgia’s state interests are also victims along with those people who suffered injuries.”

PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who is the chairman of the GDDG party has not yet reacted to the violence in the village of Kortskheli, which occurred early on Sunday afternoon. The Interior Ministry said it is investigating the incident.

Noting that there are videos and multiple witnesses of the incident, the President expressed hope that the law enforcement agencies will identify perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“Parliamentary elections will be held in Georgia in several months [on October 8]. Therefore a prompt and effective reaction of the law enforcement agencies will be a significant test. Investigation should be exemplary in order not to let anyone even dare in the future to damage strategic goals of our country and voters,” reads the statement of the President, who also expressed hope that the law enforcement agencies will pass this test.