This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19780695

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Georgia leader Mikhail Saakashvili faces election test Georgia election: Opposition leader refuses to vote
(about 4 hours later)
Voters in Georgia are going to the polls in an election regarded as President Mikhail Saakashvili's biggest test since he came to power in 2003. A Georgian billionaire who is the main rival to President Mikheil Saakashvili in the country's parliamentary election has refused to vote.
Opposition leader Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia's richest man, accuses the president of acting undemocratically and trampling on people's rights. Bidzina Ivanishvili said the authorities had "already resorted to very many violations", as Georgia's 3.6 million voters went to the polls.
It is seen as the biggest test of President Saakashvili's popularity since he came to power in 2003.
Mr Ivanishvili, Georgia's richest man, accused him of human rights abuses.
He described it as "something close to a democratic election" but accused Mr Saakashvili of "distorting" the constitution, and said that was why he would not vote. His wife, who was with him at the polling station, did cast her ballot.
Despite the flaws, Mr Ivanishvili said, "today for the first time in Georgian history the government will be changed through elections".
Analysts say the election is crucial because Georgia's political system is being altered to give more power to parliament.
Mr Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia in the early 1990s, is now deemed legally entitled to vote, despite an earlier dispute about his citizenship.
He was stripped of his Georgian citizenship last year, but then a constitutional change was made which would allow him to vote as a French passport holder and EU citizen.
Russian influence
Mr Saakashvili says his opponent would allow Russia to dominate the former Soviet republic.Mr Saakashvili says his opponent would allow Russia to dominate the former Soviet republic.
The president led the country in a short war with Russia in 2008.The president led the country in a short war with Russia in 2008.
He has sought to portray the election as a choice between his progressive Western-leaning government, and a future dominated by Russia.He has sought to portray the election as a choice between his progressive Western-leaning government, and a future dominated by Russia.
"Tomorrow, our enemy has its last chance to turn us off our path of independence," Mr Saakashvili said in a recorded address carried on state TV on Sunday."Tomorrow, our enemy has its last chance to turn us off our path of independence," Mr Saakashvili said in a recorded address carried on state TV on Sunday.
"But I am confident that tomorrow our freedom-loving nation will take the ultimate and decisive step towards liberation from the pincers of the conqueror and towards integration into the house of Europe."
The government's reputation has taken a battering in recent weeks because of a prisoner-abuse scandal.The government's reputation has taken a battering in recent weeks because of a prisoner-abuse scandal.
Videos broadcast on national television showed prison inmates being beaten and sexually abused by guards.Videos broadcast on national television showed prison inmates being beaten and sexually abused by guards.
The scandal sparked street protests and has allowed Mr Ivanishvili to portray the government as high-handed and uncaring.The scandal sparked street protests and has allowed Mr Ivanishvili to portray the government as high-handed and uncaring.
"This regime cannot be the leadership of our country. This system should collapse," he told supporters of his Georgian Dream coalition at a rally on Saturday."This regime cannot be the leadership of our country. This system should collapse," he told supporters of his Georgian Dream coalition at a rally on Saturday.
Analysts say the election is crucial because Georgia's political system is being altered to give more power to parliament.
Mr Saakashvili's second term as president ends next year, and he is constitutionally barred from standing again.Mr Saakashvili's second term as president ends next year, and he is constitutionally barred from standing again.
A parliamentary majority for his United National Movement could see him continue his domination of Georgian politics after he steps down.A parliamentary majority for his United National Movement could see him continue his domination of Georgian politics after he steps down.
The BBC's Damien McGuinness in Tbilisi says fist-fights are already a common feature of campaign meetings, and there are fears a dispute over the results could lead to violence.The BBC's Damien McGuinness in Tbilisi says fist-fights are already a common feature of campaign meetings, and there are fears a dispute over the results could lead to violence.