Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, joined by the country's opposition, rejected the results of the recent parliamentary election, claiming it was a result of a Russian "special operation." Zourabichvili called the outcome a "total falsification" and urged Georgians to protest the results in the capital city of Tbilisi.
The ruling party, Georgian Dream, won 54.8% of the vote according to the Central Election Commission, with turnout reported to be the highest since the party was first elected in 2012. However, European electoral observers raised concerns about the election process, citing instances of intimidation, physical violence, and vote buying.
The Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) also expressed worries about the conduct of the election, stating that Georgian Dream used hostile rhetoric and promoted Russian disinformation in an attempt to manipulate the vote. Georgian electoral observers reported multiple violations and claimed that the results did not reflect the will of the Georgian people.
Critics of Georgian Dream, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, accused the ruling party of becoming increasingly authoritarian and adopting laws similar to those in Russia to suppress freedom of speech. Ivanishvili, who claimed victory immediately after the polls closed, had previously vowed to ban opposition parties if his party won.
The opposition, including the United National Movement (UNM) party, declared that they would not recognize the election results and vowed to fight to reclaim Georgia's European future. The UNM party headquarters was reportedly attacked, and there were reports of violence outside polling stations.
Overall, the election in Georgia has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the country's democratic process, with accusations of manipulation, intimidation, and violence marring the outcome. The future of Georgia's relationship with Europe and its path towards EU membership remain uncertain amidst the turmoil.