International observers said there were concerns with the electoral process both before and during elections in Georgia, fuelling polarisation between Georgian Dream and opposition parties who claim the result was "rigged,"
Euronews reports.
There were various issues with the electoral process during last night's elections in Georgia, according to a Western delegation of observers co-ordinated by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Whilst members said that voting on election day was generally well-organised, they pointed to a tense and pressured environment pre-election day as well as several instances of intimidation and procedural inconsistencies during the day itself.
"During our observation, we noted cases of vote-buying and double-voting before and during elections, especially in rural areas" Iulian Bulai, head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe delegation, said.
He added that the presence of cameras inside polling stations added to a climate of pressure and that an observer from his delegation found their car vandalised when carrying out assessments.
Georgian Dream declared they had a majority after hours of voting yesterday based on data from the country's electoral commission. Opposition parties have fiercely disputed the results, claiming the election was "rigged."
In 24% of cases analysed by a delegation from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights voter secrecy was found to be compromised.
Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, who represented a group of observers from the European Parliament, pointed to a tense and highly polarised environment for voters saying, "Although, outwardly, the campaign was quite subdued, there were signs that efforts were underway to undermine and manipulate the vote."
Observers pointed to an uneven playing field, with the incumbent Georgian Dream party having significantly more financial resources in the run-up to the election.
They said although there was clear political bias across all domestic media outlets in Georgia, significantly more time on-screen time was dedicated to the ruling party before voting started.
Georgia’s vibrant democracy has been a source of strength since 2004, and yesterday’s turnout demonstrates the Georgian people’s embrace of democracy,
US State Department reports.
"In 2024, however, international and local observers noted a pre-election environment marked by the ruling party’s misuse of public resources, vote buying, and voter intimidation, all of which contributed to an uneven playing field and undermined public and international trust in the possibility of a fair outcome. While international and local observers agreed that Election Day was generally well administered, we note reports of irregularities and sporadic violence. International observers have not declared the result to be free and fair. We condemn all contraventions of international norms and join calls from international and local observers for a full investigation of all reports of election-related violations.
Going forward, we encourage Georgia’s political leaders to respect the rule of law, repeal legislation that undermines fundamental freedoms, and address deficiencies in the electoral process together. Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration goals, enshrined in the country’s constitution, require that the government respect the rights of members of civil society and the fundamental freedoms of all Georgian citizens," US State Department statement reads.
