Ruling party, United National Movement (UNM), named on August 2 its majoritarian MP candidates in three out of seven single-mandate constituencies of Kvemo Kartli region.

All three nominees are sitting lawmakers, who will try to retain their majoritarian MP seats in the constituencies, which they currently represent.

MP Kakha Okriashvili will again run in Dmanisi single-mandate constituency. Okriashvili is a co-founder of PSP, which is one of the three companies dominating in import, distribution, retail and manufacturing sector of Georgia’s pharmaceutical market. He is a lawmaker since 2004; he retained his seat in Parliament after winning in Dmanisi single-mandate constituency with over 93% of votes in 2008 parliamentary elections. His rival from the Georgian Dream in Dmanisi will be coalition’s leader Bidzina Ivanishvili’s long-time acquaintance Paata Khizanishvili. 

MP Davit Bezhuashvili will again run in Tetritskaro single-mandate constituency. Bezhuashvili has been a lawmaker since 1999; he is behind Georgian Industrial Group, a conglomerate whose businesses range from coal mining and energy sector to real estate and beverage production. His brother Davit Bezhuashvili is chief of the Georgian intelligence service. Bezhuashvili won his majoritarian MP seat in Tetritskaro constituency with 71.5% of votes in 2008. The Georgian Dream coalition has named a doctor, Mamuka Abuladze, in Tetritskaro single-mandate constituency.

MP Koba Nakopia will run in Dmanisi constituency. Nakopia has spent more than half of his career in Russia working as senior executive at various companies, returned back to Georgia in 2004 after becoming general director of gold and copper mining company, Madneuli, which at the time was owned by Russia's Industrial Investors (Promyshlennye Investory) in which Nakopia held the post of vice-president. He was elected as majoritarian MP in Bolnisi single-mandate constituency in 2008 with over 83% of votes. Nakopia helped with financing movie about Georgia-Russia war, 5 Days of August. His rival from the Georgian Dream in Bolnisi will be a local doctor Darejan Khvistani-Chkhetiani.

The ruling party’s three candidates were named by parliamentary speaker, Davit Bakradze, while visiting Kvemo Kartli region on August 2.