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Today, October 27, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili refused to recognize the results of the parliamentary elections in the country and announced the preparation of protests. She called these elections pro-Russian, and also stated that new technologies were used for falsifications. The European Parliament and Western countries also responded to the elections in Georgia, FREEDOM reports.
Salome Zurabishvili announced that tomorrow evening, October 28, a rally will be held on the central street of Tbilisi, the Georgian Service of Radio Liberty reports.
Earlier, the coalition Unity – National Movement announced the refusal of their parliamentary mandates. According to opposition leaders, the victory of the Georgian Dream is a special operation of the Russian Federation against the Georgian people.
The parliamentary elections in Georgia demonstrated a rollback from democracy. This was stated by the head of the delegation of the European Parliament Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, summing up the results of the past vote. He stressed that international observers would closely monitor the situation in Georgia.
“Our European Parliament teams witnessed high tension, confusion and chaos in some polling stations, in one case ballot stuffing, physical attacks on observers trying to report violations, the expulsion of observers and media representatives from polling stations, the tearing up of observers’ complaints, and intimidation of voters inside and outside polling stations. We support the Georgian people’s continued commitment to democracy, sovereignty and freedom. We express deep concern about the democratic backsliding in Georgia, which is unfortunately confirmed by the holding of these elections alone,” Antonio Lopez Isturiz White said.
The European Union should not recognize the results of the parliamentary elections in Georgia, as they were neither free nor fair. This was stated by parliamentarians from European countries and Canada, European Pravda reports, citing a joint statement. The document was signed by the chairmen of the Foreign and European Affairs Committees of Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Ireland, Ukraine, Poland, Canada, as well as the Vice-Speaker of the Swedish Parliament and one MEP.
The parliamentarians noted that the political climate in Georgia on the eve of the elections was incompatible with European standards of fairness, and the policy of the Georgian Dream party is incompatible with the positions of the European Union. The deputies demanded the introduction of personal sanctions against those responsible for unfair influence on the elections, intimidation and threats against the opposition and civil society.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili announced her refusal to recognize the parliamentary elections, which she called “Russian” elections, and urged people to join mass protests.
She referred to the recent vote as “Russian elections” and accused the authorities of depriving citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
The President confirmed she would not accept the results presented by the Central Election Commission.
“I do not recognize these elections. They cannot be acknowledged. Recognizing them would be like accepting Russia’s presence here and Georgia’s subjugation to Russia. This is not why I came to this country, nor is it what our ancestors lived for. We will not accept it. No one can take away Georgia’s European future,” she added.
Zourabichvili called on people to fight for their voices and gather at Rustaveli Square on Monday at 7:00 PM to declare to the world, “We do not recognize these elections.”
Recall that voting in the parliamentary elections has ended in Georgia. After counting the votes at almost one hundred percent of the polling stations, the ruling Georgian Dream party gained 54.24% of the votes. Four opposition parties together gained 37.33% of the votes. This was reported by the Central Election Commission of Georgia. The opposition and a number of political scientists call the Georgian Dream pro-Russian, and its founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, is suspected of large-scale corruption and close business ties with Russia.
