In Georgia the decision is being made: should we head towards the West or the Kremlin? A hot fight had already been expected. Now there are reports of violence and manipulation.
After the parliamentary election in Georgia, which was seen as a decisive decision, both the government and the opposition claimed victory. Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili declared the ruling Georgian Dream party, which he founded, the winner of the election on Saturday. The opposition Coalition for Change, however, stated that the previous opposition had together won a parliamentary majority in the Caucasus republic.
Forecasts published by the media varied greatly. The broadcaster Imedi TV, which is close to the ruling party, predicted a result of 56 percent of the vote. According to Formula TV, which is close to the opposition, the governing party can expect 41 percent of the vote and the opposition as a whole can expect 52 percent of the vote. The also pro-opposition channel Mtawari Archi TV saw the ruling party at 42 percent and the opposition at a total of 48 percent. Polling stations closed at 8:00 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. CEST).
Many consider the success of the Georgian Dream to be the country’s move away from the EU towards more cooperation with its large neighbor Russia. Around 3.5 million citizens at home and abroad were called to vote.
Election management reports attempted manipulation
According to the pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili, violence had previously occurred. “I would like to point out the deeply disturbing incidents of violence at various polling stations,” Zurabishvili said in online services on Saturday. Videos were circulated on online networks showing violent confrontations occurring at several polling stations.
There were also increasing reports of alleged election manipulation. In the small town of Marneuli in the southeast of the country, for example, a man threw in several ballot papers at a polling station and voting there was interrupted, the central electoral commission told the Interpressnews news agency. The results at the polling station would not be counted, it was said. The opposition and the government blamed each other for the incident.
Georgia is facing a fundamental decision
The Young Lawyers Association also reported “significant election violations.” The opposition parties also shared footage of apparently clogged ballot boxes in the southeastern village of Sadachlo. “They are stuffing ballot boxes, harassing voters and beating observers,” said Tina Bokuchava, a leader of the main opposition party UNM, the pro-European United National Movement of jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
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The parliamentary elections in Georgia were seen as groundbreaking. The government is taking an increasingly nationalist-conservative course and is orienting itself towards Russia. It fueled fears that war would break out if the opposition won the election. The opposition, on the other hand, wants to bring the country into the European Union. Georgia is a candidate for EU membership, but the process is on hold due to a series of recently passed restrictive laws.
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
