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Olympic champions Lasha Talakhadze, Geno Petriashvili among ruling party’s top 20 candidates for upcoming parliamentary elections

 Lasha Talakhadze Geno Petriashvili

Lasha Talakhadze
Geno Petriashvili

The ruling Georgian Dream party on Tuesday presented the top twenty candidates of its electoral list ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26.

The Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who also heads the ruling party’s electoral office, announced that the two renowned Olympic champions Lasha Talakhadze and Geno Petriashvili were among the top twenty candidates.

Weightlifter Talakhadze is a multiple-time European and World Champion, and won his third consecutive Olympic title in the heaviest weightlifting division, taking gold in the men’s +102 kilograms at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Petriashvili, a distinguished wrestler, secured multiple European and World Championship titles. After taking a bronze medal at Rio 2016 and settling for silver at Tokyo 2020, Petriashvili finally came out on top of a gold medal final to clinch the 125kg freestyle title at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on August 10.

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