Prime Minister Hails Adjara Polls

Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania held overnight talks with Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze in Batumi after the March 28 parliamentary elections.

“I am really glad to say that elections in Adjara was not held with widespread violations and the elections process was far from alarming in the Autonomous Republic,” Zurab Zhvania told reporters after talks with Aslan Abashidze.

“March 28 elections in Adjara were a great success,” he added.

The Prime Minister, who was dispatched to the troubled region to oversee election process, said, “his mission to Adjara was fulfilled.”

“My goal was, together with the leadership of the Autonomy, to avoid large scale violations and aggravation of situation in Adjara on the elections day. And we managed to do this,” Zurab Zhvania said.

President Saakashvili told reporters after the polls on March 28 that his National Movement-Democrats party leads the polls not only in entire Georgia, but also in the Adjarian Autonomy.

“We have garnered twice more votes that the local ruling party [Abashidze-backed Revival Union],” President Saakashvili said.

However, he added that these are not final results and data might changes. First preliminary official results of the polls will be known by the midday on March 29.

According to the exit polls President Saakashvili’s ruling party swept a landslide victory with 78,1%. While other 10 parties and 5 election coalitions failed to clear 7% barrier necessary for gaining seats in the Parliament.