Armenian-populated Akhalkalaki was the only city where Saakashvili’s party lost

Regnum, Russia
Oct 6 2006

The city of Akhalkalaki (whose Armenian population totals 95%),
where four voting stations functioned, was probably the only urban
Georgian settlement, where the ruling United National Movement Party
was defeated, Akhalkalaki mayor Nairi Iritsyan, elected in 2002,
informed REGNUM correspondent.

"According to preliminary assessments, candidates from the Industry
Will Save Georgia Party nominated by the United Javakh Movement won
the Akhalkalaki municipal elections. 60% of voters who participated
in the elections supported majoritarians. Our success is the result
of the last several years of work," the mayor accounted.

As REGNUM was informed by the former mayor who was candidate at the
local elections, 1,829 voters of over 7,000 registered have taken part
in the Akhalkalaki municipal elections. According to data provided by
the staff office of Nairi Iritsyan, statistics on the city elections
show: 532 voters participated in elections according party lists, of
which 289 voted for Industrialists and 219 – for the United National
Movement (UNM). At voting on majority lists, 174 residents voted for
the UNM representative and 350 – for Industrialists.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress