Investigation Launched into Allegations of Election Fraud in Georgia
State prosecutors in Georgia have initiated an investigation following opposition claims of election "falsification" in the recent parliamentary elections, which were won by the ruling Georgian Dream party. This inquiry, requested by the electoral commission, comes amid allegations from President Salome Zourabichvili, who has asserted that the vote count was manipulated and is set to be interviewed as part of the investigation.
The electoral commission announced that Georgian Dream secured 54 percent of the vote, despite widespread protests from pro-Western opposition parties, who labeled the election a “constitutional coup.” The European Union has highlighted “irregularities” in the voting process, and U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concern over perceived democratic “backsliding” in Georgia.
Zourabichvili claims that the election was influenced by a "Russian special operation," a notion dismissed by the Kremlin. Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported incidents of voter intimidation, bribery, and ballot stuffing, although they refrained from declaring the election outright rigged.
In response to the allegations, the electoral commission has called the claims “baseless” but announced a recount at some polling stations. Protests erupted in Tbilisi, with tens of thousands rallying against the results, as opposition parties declared they would not participate in the new parliament and demanded fresh elections overseen by international authorities.
The political landscape in Georgia is tense, with critics accusing Georgian Dream of steering the nation closer to Russian influence, while opposition forces advocate for greater integration with the European Union. This turmoil follows the freezing of Georgia’s EU accession process, prompted by controversial legislation reminiscent of Russian laws on “foreign influence.”
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