Prepared by Messenger Staff
Georgian Dream Wins All Four Municipal Council By-Election Races
Ruling Georgian Dream candidates won all four majoritarian races in municipal council by-elections held on October 3, according to preliminary results from the Central Election Commission.
In Vani, Georgian Dream's Vazha Kheladze won 87.2% of the vote, receiving 387 votes. His only rival, Strong Georgia-Lelo's Beka Kobaladze, received 12.8%, or 57 votes.
In Tsalka, Georgian Dream candidate Nanuli Khinikadze secured 96.7% with 415 votes, while Strong Georgia-Lelo's Zaza Shantadze received 3.3%, or 14 votes.
In Dmanisi, Georgian Dream's Irakli Sarsevanidze won 98.5% with 131 votes. Strong Georgia-Lelo candidate Vazha Noniashvili received 1.5%, or two votes.
In Akhmeta, Georgian Dream candidate Levan Itiuridze was the only candidate and received all 115 votes.
Only Georgian Dream and Strong Georgia-Lelo candidates contested the four races. Several major opposition parties continue to boycott municipal elections following allegations of fraud surrounding the disputed 2024 parliamentary elections.
Russian Authorities Say Extradited Prisoner Killed After Train Attack
A prisoner previously extradited from Georgia was killed after allegedly attacking guards aboard a train in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria region, Russian authorities said.
Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service said the prisoner attacked guards in a special railcar on the Vladikavkaz-Adler train on October 3. According to Russian authorities, he seized a guard's weapon after being taken to the toilet, killing one guard and wounding three others before being shot dead.
Russia's state-run TASS later identified the prisoner as Dmitry Pushkarev, citing law enforcement sources. The agency reported that Pushkarev had been extradited from Georgia over drug-related charges and allegations of creating a criminal organization.
The case comes as Georgia faces an ongoing extradition case involving Russian citizen Mikhail Timofeyev. Timofeyev was recently released on bail from extradition detention in Georgia after the UN Human Rights Committee urged Georgia not to extradite or deport him while it reviews his case.
