Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office announced an investigation into vote-rigging claims after last weekend’s parliamentary elections. The inquiry follows opposition allegations that the election results were illegitimate.
President Refuses to Appear for Questioning
President Salome Zourabichvili declined a summons to the Prosecutor’s Office. At a Tbilisi press conference, she stated, “It is not the President’s role to provide proof that already exists in society.” She emphasized that NGOs, observers, and citizens had gathered evidence of electoral violations. Despite her refusal to appear, the Central Election Commission (CEC) scheduled her questioning for Thursday.
Partial Ballot Recount Announced
Election officials announced a partial recount of ballots from select polling stations. The CEC stated that five randomly selected polling stations in each district would undergo reexamination. The timeline for completing the recount remains unclear.
The ruling party, Georgian Dream, declared victory, claiming 54% of the vote from nearly complete counts. The party’s strengthened ties with Russia raised concerns among opposition groups. Many voters viewed the election as a choice between continued support for Georgian Dream or a push for closer integration with the European Union.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Investigation’s Fairness
Opposition figures questioned the independence of the investigation, citing that the Prosecutor’s Office is led by a parliament-appointed official from Georgian Dream’s ranks. Salome Samadashvili of the opposition Strong Georgia coalition voiced doubt about an impartial inquiry. “If anyone believes Bidzina Ivanishvili will investigate his own election fraud, they are mistaken,” she stated.
Samadashvili called for an international mission to conduct the investigation, arguing, “Without this, this election cannot and will not have legitimacy or trust.”
International Reactions and Warnings
President Zourabichvili compared Georgia’s elections to those in Russia, asserting that “technology was used to whitewash counterfeiting,” a method she claimed was unprecedented in Georgia’s history.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation, declaring, “Russia has won in Georgia.” He warned that Moldova might face a similar fate if Western powers failed to challenge Russia’s “red lines.” According to Zelenskyy, Russian influence had shifted Georgia’s political direction, resulting in a pro-Russian government.
Both Georgia’s elections and Moldova’s upcoming presidential runoff are seen as critical moments for each country’s commitment to EU integration or alignment with Russian interests.