On Saturday, October 26th, Georgia held parliamentary elections marked by safety tensions and increasing concerns of pro-Russian interference. The ruling Georgian Dream party, which has developed a pro-Russia stance since coming to power in 2012 and is led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, claimed a broad triumph with around 54.2 per cent of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
Situated at the strategical crossroads between Europe and Asia, this erstwhile russian republic occupies a key position in the Caucasus. Since its independency in 1991, Georgia has navigated between its pro-western aspirations – namely, its desire to join the European Union and NATO – and pressures from its northern neighbour, Russia.
Following the elections, global observers and the opposition reported crucial electoral fraud and dozens of violent incidents across the country. president Salomé Zourabichvili, a staunch opponent of Georgian Dream despite her limited powers, condemned what she sees as Moscow’s effort to tighten its grip on the Caucasus.
Massive protests erupted in Tbilisi, where thousands of Georgians demanded transparency. The memory of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War remains fresh, a conflict that led to Russia’s business of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Moscow continues to control these regions and maintains a military presence there, fuelling ongoing tensions with the Georgian people, who inactive consider these areas integral parts of their sovereign territory.
In front of the massive Georgian parliament on Monday night, Ala Melkoni was 1 of the many demonstrators who gathered. With a European flag draped over her shoulders, this 22-year-old student refuses to admit the parliamentary election results. In her final year at Tbilisi University, Ala inactive had exams at 8 in the morning the following day: “We’re utilized to this in Georgia: we survey by day and protest by night!”
Standing on a wooden platform before the imposing Georgian parliament, president Salomé Zourabichvili spoke with a sombre expression: “You won these elections; no 1 has the right to take distant your European future.” At the end of her speech, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” – the EU anthem – played symbolically over the loudspeakers on Rustaveli Avenue.
Waving flags of the European Union, Ukraine and NATO, the crowd erupted with emotion. any wiped distant tears, as this election was seen by many as the last hope to join the European Union and decision distant from Russia.
Minutes later, first clashes between pro-Russian and coalition supporters were rapidly suppressed by the hundreds of police officers stationed on site. The arrival of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Tbilisi to congratulate the fresh government further heightened safety measures.
In front of the large ochre-columned entrance to parliament, the police presence did not intimidate Linda Nakashidze. A geology student, Linda is no alien to protests in Tbilisi. Last May, she came each week equipped with a gas mask to protest laws passed by the Georgian Dream party.
Linda Nakishidze had already mobilized in May against the Georgian Dream government. Photo: Théodore Donguy
Once again on Rustaveli Avenue, she is ready to protest against the recently elected government: “I’ve already faced police water cannons. I’m not afraid of them.” The next day, Linda is back in front of parliament, hoping for fresh elections to be held.
“Rigged elections manipulated by Russia”
The day before, the president had called on people to challenge the authoritative results. “Recognizing these elections would be to admit Georgia’s submission to Russia,” she declared, accusing Georgian Dream and its honorary chairman, the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, of orchestrating widespread vote-buying and manipulation.
“Ivanishvili’s government has made it clear that it has no intention of conducting a serious investigation into electoral fraud,” says David Zedelashvili, a constitutional law prof. at Tbilisi University. Before the elections, the president had repeatedly criticized laws passed by Georgian Dream, peculiarly those concerning “foreign agents” and “LGBT propaganda”. Despite Georgian Dream’s stated goal of joining the European Union, their trajectory appears to be pushing Georgia closer to Russia.
Five days after the elections, at the presidential palace, Salomé Zourabichvili one more time addressed the press, demonstrating evidence of widespread fraud. On a tiny screen to her right, images of disruptions at polling stations flashed by. “It couldn’t be clearer,” she added, pointing to the monitor. She has now been summoned by her country’s judiciary to present this evidence and substantiate her claims.
From Georgian Dream’s side, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze praised the “landslide” election outcome, rejecting claims of electoral fraud and violence. “Irregularities happen everywhere, in all country,” he told the BBC in an interview.
Ironically, a fresh electronic voting strategy was implemented in 90 per cent of polling stations for these elections. Yet, the setup proved unreliable, as thousands of citizens reportedly voted multiple times, according to Salomé Zourabichvili: “For instance, the same ID number was linked to 20 votes across different regions.”
A fewer minutes after the president cast her vote at polling station number 2, Georgians discovered electronic voting for themselves. Photo: Théodore Donguy
Tina Bokuchava, president of the main opposition organization the United National Movement (UNM), reported nearly “300,000 cases of fraud”, which she says allowed Georgian Dream to safe 89 out of 150 parliamentary seats. On Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock, Georgians eagerly awaited the study from the joint reflection mission.
This mission included 529 observers from 42 countries, representing organizations specified as NATO and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for safety and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), tasked with overseeing the fair conduct of voting in polling stations across the country.
Addressing hundreds of journalists gathered in the conference hall of the Radisson Hotel in Tbilisi, Pascal Allizard, a French senator and mission coordinator, was clear: “The run was imbalanced, and the election was marred by force and attempts to buy votes.” According to Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, a typical of the European Parliament, these manipulations are “proof” of Georgia’s “democratic backsliding”.
From their office at the Marriott Hotel in Tbilisi, the My Vote coalition, composed of around 30 associations, besides revealed that Georgian Dream had “orchestrated a large-scale plan aimed at manipulating results”. circumstantial tactics included pre-filled ballots and the confiscation of ID cards. According to Londa Toloraia, spokesperson for My Vote, “incidents were reported in 189 polling stations, mainly in constituencies favouring the coalition.” This could invalidate these stations, cancelling close to “300,000 votes that would have primarily benefitted 1 of the 4 coalition parties.”
Reports of force across the country
At the 69th polling station in the city of Marneuli, south of the capital, an observer was beaten for filming ballot-stuffing organized by Georgian Dream supporters. This video was the first instance of fraud widely circulated on social media, and the first sign of pro-Russian influence.
According to Alexandre Asatiani, head of abroad affairs for the UNM, over 50 opposition members were attacked on election day: “Some who filmed fraud were even arrested, had their phones confiscated, and were denied access to a lawyer.”
The force besides reached 1 of the opposition organization headquarters. Late Saturday afternoon, an hr before the first polls were released, a group of around 20 men waving Georgian Dream flags stormed the building in a suburb of Tbilisi, sparking a violent clash in the fading light.
The violent attack by Georgian Dream supporters blocked the Kakheti Highway. Photo: Théodore Donguy
One coalition associate was injured, and leaders responded immediately: “Their attitude, the arrests of people defending European votes, and this attack prove they are afraid.”
Russia besides sought to make election day as violent as possible to intensify debates. Members close to the Wagner militia travelled to Tbilisi to act as election liaisons. Among them was Alexander Malkevich, a friend of erstwhile leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, serving as a actual Kremlin typical in Georgia that week.
The coming weeks will be decisive
All these election-related events are gradually diminishing the hopes of the 80 per cent of Georgians who want to join the European Union. Last May, Brussels had already frozen the EU accession process following the adoption of the “foreign agents” law, which restricts the activities of NGOs funded partially by abroad countries.
The West must decide how to characterize these evidently flawed elections and how to respond to the ruling party’s repression, including the possible for a Belarus or Venezuela-style script of power retention through force.
The United States is reportedly preparing sanctions against Georgian leaders, including Ivanishvili. These are likely to be applied if government-led force or electoral fraud persists. The key question remains whether Georgian society has the resolve to sustain opposition to an authoritarian regime.
President Salomé Zourabichvili has thus far been incapable to talk with the interior minister to discuss the many global reports pointing to election fraud.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, meanwhile, stated, “There are attempts at interference, but they do not come from Russia.” Demonstrations are planned all weekend by the opposition and the president. For now, they refuse to admit the fresh parliament, which is expected to elect a fresh president within weeks.
The conflict for Georgian democracy is now heading to the streets, where many observers long anticipated it would yet unfold.
Théodore Donguy is an independent writer based in Paris. He covers human rights and war in east Europe. He has been published in European outlets including VoxEurop, Paris Match, Hampshire Chronicle and France 24.
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