Georgia’s pro-Western president is calling on his country’s citizens to take to the streets to protest the disputed results of recent parliamentary elections, which he sees as a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Georgia shares borders with Russia.
“As the last independent institution, I cannot recognize these elections – it will legitimize Russia’s occupation of Georgia. Our ancestors suffered too much to surrender their European future,” the Georgian president said. Salome Zorabicholi said in a statement released on X. With the Associated Press, he said the election was “rigged with the help of Russia.”
The results are a major setback for the country, which is trying to join the European Union and draw closer to the West. A loss to the opposition could derail Georgia’s hopes of becoming a member of the European Union and put it further in the grip of Russia.
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“The election result is a win for Putin, whose goal since becoming president of Russia in 1999 has always been to bring former Soviet states back under Russian control,” former Defense Intelligence Agency official Rebecca Koffler told Fox News Digital. has been.”
Koffler added, “Did the Russian intelligence services — the GRU and the FSB — have a hand in influencing the election? While there is currently no evidence that votes were manipulated and changed after they were cast, It’s been done, but influencing operations targeting the presidential election is standard Putin’s playbook, but the way it’s done is extremely difficult to make a definitive analysis of such activities. “
The US is supporting Georgia’s pro-European president and those who want to break free from Russian influence.
Secretary of State Antony Blanken noted reports of irregularities and sporadic violence, and international observers called the results not free and fair.
“We condemn all violations of international norms and join calls for a thorough investigation by international and local observers of all reports of election-related violations,” Blanken said in a statement.
“This is a critical moment for Georgia. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, must recognize that its actions may have immediate consequences for its economic and security agenda. Russia has undoubtedly sown the seeds of division and disinformation. Boone has benefited, Sen. Jane Shaheen, D-N., a senior member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, the committee’s ranking member, said in a joint statement.
“We recognize the right of the Georgian people to peacefully protest if they so desire and call on the relevant authorities in Georgia to respect this very important democratic right,” the senators said.
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Russian-backed party Georgian Dream claimed victory shortly after polls closed on Saturday, with nearly 54 percent of the vote. The united opposition got only 38 percent of the votes. The ruling party even had support from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who sent congratulations to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the Georgian Dream Party before the election results were released. Orban visited Tbilisi and further justified the government’s controversial victory.
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Many opposition figures have rejected Georgian Dream’s claim of victory, calling the election rigged and rigged.
Georgia’s president and many Western observers confirmed that the election results were marred by irregularities, including fraud and ballot stuffing.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) noted in a statement that the elections were “marked by a tense atmosphere and numerous incidents of physical altercations and widespread voter intimidation.” European Council President Charles Michel has called for an investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Some Georgians outraged by the results have already taken to the streets and planned demonstrations outside parliament to express opposition. If mass protests break out, as the president and others have called for, and are met with violence by security forces, tensions could escalate.
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Many Georgians strongly desire to join the European Union, with up to 83% of polls supporting such a move. Georgia’s Dream Party has blocked Georgia’s EU accession efforts since becoming a candidate for membership in 2023. The European Union then blocked Georgia’s process following a controversial “foreign agent” law requiring citizens, non-governmental organizations, media outlets and others. Civil society organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad must register as foreign agents with the Ministry of Justice.
Following the passage of the pro-Kremlin foreign agent law, the US imposed sanctions and travel bans on Georgian officials who voted in favor of the law and security agencies responsible for cracking down on dissent. The State Department also withheld $95 million in aid to the government.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.