The election in Georgia

Russians in Georgian elections - ruling party leads

The ruling pro-Russian party Georgian Dream has 53 percent of the vote with 70 percent of the constituencies counted, Georgia's election commission said at 7:30 p.m. according to AFP. The pro-Western opposition has 38 percent.

As the polls closed, a poll by US-based Edison Research showed the opposition looking set to win a 51 percent majority, with 41 percent for Georgian Dream.

Both sides declared victory shortly after the polls closed.

The election has been described as a fateful choice, deciding whether Georgia will approach Russia or the West. The opposition, led by President Salome Zourabitchvili, has EU membership as its main goal - something that eight out of ten voters also want to see.

Georgian Dream's leader, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, has vowed to ban opposition parties if he wins.

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SR's emissary in Georgia was singled out as an agent

The atmosphere in Georgia's capital Tbilisi has been heated during election day, reports SR correspondent Maria Persson Löfgren on the spot.

- I myself was accused of being an agent from Sweden when I came and asked questions to a woman.

The image of the harsh election climate is confirmed by many election observers. Elections in Georgia are generally tough for both the candidates and the voters, according to Pia Kauma, head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which monitors the election. 

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Data on violence during the elections in Georgia

Georgia's president and opposition leader Salome Zurabishvili condemns acts of violence in connection with the elections in the country. This is reported by AFP.

- I want to address the deeply disturbing incidents of violence that have occurred at various polling stations, she says.

Films are circulating on social media showing "physical confrontation" in connection with people voting.