Following last weekend’s parliamentary election, Georgia’s prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into alleged vote rigging as tens of thousands rallied to denounce the result.
An investigation into alleged vote-rigging has been launched following the recent parliamentary election, dubbed illegitimate by the opposition and the country’s president, Georgian officials announced on Wednesday.
As soon as the Georgian Dream ruling party was declared the winner on Saturday, gaining roughly 54% of the vote, immediate objections were raised.
Electoral violations had been reported as ballots were cast, and observers noted that the election was shrouded by intimidation, vote buying, double voting and physical violence.
The United States and the EU echoed calls for a transparent investigation. However, the opposition bloc stated that the Prosecutor’s Office may be reluctant to do so, given that its head is appointed by the ruling party.
Observers claim that the results do not reflect “the will of the Georgian people”.
On Monday, tens of thousands rallied outside the parliament building to protest the alleged electoral violations, condemning what they described to be a “stolen election”.
Alongside speakers in attendance was President Salome Zourabichvili, an independent who has increasingly distanced herself from the party that once endorsed her.
Zourabichvili suggested “Russian elections” had been held in the country, adding that “technology was used to whitewash counterfeiting. Such a thing has never happened before.”
The highly divisive choice had been one to remain in support of the incumbent increasingly authoritarian government or to seek closer ties with the EU.
Is Moscow benefitting?
In 2022, Georgia was granted EU candidate status, but the process was halted when Georgia’s parliament sought to adopt what the critics have dubbed a Russian-style “foreign agents” law to crack down on dissent under the Georgian Dream party.
The implementation of this Russia-style law fuelled speculation of heavy Russian involvement in Georgian politics from across the border.
Georgian Dream had been initially launched by reclusive billionaire and ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili had close ties to Russia where he made his fortune, but has largely refrained from the public eye for the past decade.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has denied that the Kremlin had any influence on Georgian politics and has vowed to continue the country’s path towards full EU membership.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office said Zourabichvili has been summoned to give evidence by the Central Election Commission, and others “who may possess information related to the alleged criminal act” will also be questioned.
