Due to significant irregularities, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have rejected the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections in Georgia. They are calling for a re-run within a year.
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the parliamentary elections held on October 26 in Georgia, an EU candidate country, for being neither free nor fair. This is another instance of the country’s continued democratic backsliding, for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is deemed fully responsible.
MEPs have denounced numerous serious electoral violations, including documented cases of voter intimidation, vote manipulation, interference with election observers and media, and reported manipulation involving electronic voting machines. They stated that the election results announced by the country’s Central Election Commission do not accurately reflect the will of the Georgian people.
As a result, Parliament has rejected any recognition of the parliamentary elections, urging the international community to do the same. MEPs demand that the elections be re-run within a year, conducted under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration.
Parliament calls for EU sanctions against Georgian officials
Furthermore, in supporting calls for an independent international investigation into the allegations of electoral manipulation, Parliament is advocating for the EU and its member states to impose personal sanctions on Georgian officials and political leaders responsible for democratic backsliding, violations of electoral laws and standards, and the misuse of state institutions.
This includes Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Kakha Kaladze, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, and former Prime Minister and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.
MEPs are urging the European Union to limit formal contacts with the Georgian government and Parliament significantly. They assert that due to the recent adoption of anti-democratic legislation, including the ‘law on transparency and foreign influence,’ Georgia’s EU integration process has effectively been suspended.
The Parliament strongly condemns Russia’s systematic interference in Georgia’s democratic processes, mainly through disinformation campaigns such as the ‘Global War Party’ conspiracy, which falsely claims that the country’s opposition is attempting to lead the nation into war with Russia at the behest of the West.
MEPs have warned Georgian authorities sternly that any attempts to ban legally established political parties would further distance the country from the EU and hinder any prospects for EU accession.
They also emphasised that the policies implemented by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, are incompatible with Georgia’s goal of Euro-Atlantic integration.
