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Georgia's Contested Elections
Georgia's parliamentary elections spark controversy amid fraud allegations, prompting international concern and impacting the country's EU aspirations.
French
France
PoliticsInternational RelationsElectionsEuropean UnionGeorgiaFraud
Georgian DreamEuNato
Salome ZourabichviliIrakli KobakhidzeBidzina Ivanishvili
- What accusations of wrongdoing were made by the opposition?
- The opposition alleged vote-buying and voter intimidation, particularly in sparsely populated areas. President Salome Zourabichvili, at odds with the government, accused the ruling party of employing a sophisticated, Russian-style fraud scheme.
- How did the international community react to the election results?
- The US and EU expressed worries about electoral irregularities and demanded investigations. An independent pollster and election observer group also suggested widespread fraud based on their analysis of the results.
- What were the final results of the Georgian parliamentary elections?
- Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party won the October legislative elections with 53.93% of the vote, according to final results. The opposition, claiming widespread fraud, garnered 37.79%, leading to protests and international concern.
- What was the Georgian government's response to the allegations of fraud?
- Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared the election fair and reaffirmed Georgia's commitment to European integration. This election was seen by the EU as a crucial test for Georgia's EU aspirations.
- What other factors have strained Georgia's relations with the European Union?
- Georgia's recent controversial legislation on "foreign influence" and LGBT+ rights has strained its relationship with the EU, causing a freeze on its accession process. Some Georgian Dream leaders have expressed anti-Western sentiments.