Georgian local elections, 2006

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Georgia
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Georgia

President: Mikheil Saakashvili Prime Minister: Zurab Noghaideli Parliament Political parties in Georgia Elections in Georgia Parliamentary: 2003 - 2004 Presidential: 2004 Rose Revolution UNOMIG Regions and Republics Human Rights Foreign relations Georgia and the European Union Georgian-Russian relations See also: Politics of Abkhazia
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Local elections were held in Georgia on October 5, 2006. The elections follow a decree issued on August 26 by President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, setting the date for the local ballot.

This vote is considered to be the first major test of the authorities commitment to a transparent process in non-revolutionary circumstances. In addition they will demonstrate the level of public confidence in both the NMD - after a series of scandals - and the opposition, which has begun to strengthen and reorganise in the past year.

The elections coincided with an extremely tense period of relations with Russia. After a major diplomatic row regarding alleged Russian spying, the Kremlin has severed all transport and post links with Georgia.

According to preliminary results, the elections were won by the United National Movement led by President Saakashvili with an overwhelming majority. The predominantly Armenian-populated city of Akhalkalaki was the only municipality where an opposition grouping, the Industry Will Save Georgia Party, won a majority of votes. According to international observers, particularly the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the "municipal elections in Georgia were conducted with general respect for fundamental freedoms; however, the blurred distinction between the ruling authorities and the leading party reinforced the advantage of the incumbents".^[1]