Georgia Election Head Seeking Presidency

Former Central Election Commission Chairman Zurab Kharatishvili, pictured here in 2012 (file photo)

TBILISI -- The former chairman of Georgia's Central Election Commission, Zurab Kharatishvili, plans to run for president in the October 27 election.

Kharatishvili told journalists on September 1 that he has been registered as a candidate after being nominated by the National Democratic Party and the Party of European Democrats.

Kharatishvili stepped down as election commission chairman last month. Candidates have until September 7 to file registration papers.

Politicians who have already declared their candidacy include former parliamentary speaker Davit Bakradze, a member of outgoing President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement, and Giorgi Margvelashvili, the candidate of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition.

Saakashvili's party lost control of parliament to Ivanishvili's coalition after elections in October 2012.