Georgia to recount votes amid opposition 'fraud' claims
2 Min Read
This recount, set to begin in the capital Tbilisi on Tuesday evening and extend to other regions, aims to address accusations of misconduct.
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Demonstrators wave Georgian national flags during an opposition protest against the results of the parliamentary election in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Monday, October 28, 2024. (AP)
Opposition parties in Georgia are rallying against the results of last weekend's parliamentary election, calling it "fraudulent" and demanding a new, internationally-supervised vote.
According to local reports, they have threatened to reject the parliamentary mandates won by their candidates, claiming that the ruling Georgian Dream party manipulated the election outcome to secure its majority.
In response to growing discontent, Georgian election officials have announced a recount of ballots at five randomly selected polling stations in each district.
This recount, set to begin in the capital Tbilisi on Tuesday evening and extend to other regions, aims to address accusations of misconduct.
According to the central election commission, authorized observers will oversee the process to ensure transparency.
Color revolution?
Georgian Dream, the conservative populist party currently in power, achieved nearly 54% of the vote, with over 99.9% of ballots counted.
However, the pro-Western opposition has alleged vote-buying and voter intimidation, claims echoed by the US State Department.
During a press briefing, US spokesperson Matthew Miller criticized the Georgian government’s tactics and urged it to "recommit to its democratic Euro-Atlantic trajectory."
He warned that failure to address these concerns could impact future American financial assistance to Tbilisi.
Read more: US implements visa restrictions, eyes Georgia cooperation review
European officials are also watching closely, with European Council President Charles Michel announcing that EU leaders will discuss Georgia's election irregularities at an upcoming summit.
This scrutiny follows recent Georgian laws seen by Western allies as detrimental to democracy, including new requirements for NGOs and media to disclose foreign funding sources.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili added to the controversy by claiming that the election might have been part of a "Russian special operation," although the US has refrained from endorsing her claim.
