The ruling party-backed presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili gave her first statement after two separate exit polls put her ahead of the opposition candidate, Grigol Vashadze.
Below is the full text:
“First of all, I would like to thank everyone. Today is a very important day. The country has made its principled choice, and the choice is very important for Georgia, for its present and for its future.
Together, we have said no to the past – something that would have hampered the progress and development of our country.
Our choice is peaceful Georgia, the country of free and equal citizens.
Our choice is to have a dialogue with those who did not vote for me and who are not sharing our views. We all are citizens of one country, one small country; we live in one state and we should unite and pacify our country. I promise I will do my best to achieve our unity.
It is very important that today’s election was held in a peaceful environment, and this was ensured by our government.
I would like to thank everyone who came to elections; we live in a democracy and high voter turnout means that we have a very highly democratic country.
We will of course wait for official results so that the people’s principled choice is finally confirmed.
I am grateful to everyone who stood beside me during this period, to my supporters, to the entire society.
I am grateful to the party that supported me – the Georgian Dream. I am also grateful to my family, my children who helped me believe that one should never give up main principles and goals; and my goal is to have a modern, developed, strong and smiling Georgia.”
Zurabishvili made the press statement in her campaign headquarters. GDDG leaders, including former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, convened a press briefing at their party headquarters.