The ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the October 26 parliamentary elections following the release of official results, but the pro-Western opposition refused to accept the outcome, calling it a Kremlin “coup” and a “Russian special operation.”
Western leaders and organizations on October 27 also called into question the electoral procedure and results, with many expressing concerns about alleged irregularities and calling for investigations, but they remained mostly cautious in their remarks.
Still, some nations, mainly those bordering Russia and always wary about Kremlin meddling, condemned the elections.
Election authorities officially gave the Kremlin-friendly Georgia Dream party 54.8 percent of the vote, with the combined opposition around 37 percent.
However, polls commissioned by the opposition gave Georgian Dream far below 50 percent.
Nearly all of the opposition, as well as pro-Western Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who long ago broke with Georgian Dream, said they would not accept the results and called for street protests on October 28.
Here are comments from others around the globe:
“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.”
-- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
"The campaign was competitive but subdued, and contestants could generally campaign freely.
"But reports of intimidation, coercion, and pressure on voters persisted, especially on public sector employees and the economically vulnerable, raising concerns about the ability of some voters to freely form their opinions and cast their vote without fear, at odds with OSCE commitments and international standards."
-- Report of OSCE International Election Observation Mission-Georgia
“Election observers report an uneven level playing field, a divisive campaign in polarized atmosphere, and significant concerns over the impact of recent legislative amendments on this election process.
“We call on the Central Election Commission of Georgia and other relevant authorities to fulfill their duty to swiftly, transparently, and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof. Those irregularities must be clarified and addressed. That is a necessary step to rebuilding trust in the electoral process.”
-- Joint statement by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and the European Commission
“We note the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary assessment and call on the Central Election Commission and other relevant authorities to fulfill their duty to swiftly, transparently, and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof.
“These alleged irregularities must be seriously clarified and addressed.”
The November European Council meeting in Budapest “will assess the situation and set the next steps in our relations with Georgia.”
-- Charles Michel, president of the European Council
“The president of Georgia has announced that the parliamentary elections were falsified. Europe must now stand with the Georgian people.”
-- Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski
"The OSCE reports on Georgian elections confirm multiple irregularities and violations. What a disgrace. I applaud the [Georgian] people who came out to vote en masse despite intimidation. Their wish for a European future must be respected by any Georgian government."
-- Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, former NATO assistant secretary-general for public diplomacy
"Reports of irregularities in Georgian elections give rise to grave concern. Closely following the evaluations of international and local observers."
-- Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna
“We have seen claims and counterclaims regarding the election’s outcome, including legitimate concerns about the fairness of the overall election process.
"The primary domestic observer group, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), is still finalizing the detailed report of its parallel vote tabulation, which we urge everyone to respect.
“While Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections saw greater turnout than the last two elections, demonstrating Georgian citizens’ commitment to the democratic process, it is clear that the preelection period failed to meet fundamental standards for democratic elections.
“State-sponsored efforts to discredit election observers, legislation targeting civil society, and voter intimidation reported by observers both leading up to and on election day severely undermined the fairness of the process.”
-- NDI, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based democracy watchdog
"Elections in Georgia were held in a polarized and restrictive environment, undermining inclusivity, transparency, and fairness, which significantly compromised the democratic integrity of the election process."
"Although the election administration generally conducted the process professionally and efficiently, ENEMO expressed concerns regarding the CEC's independence and impartiality. The cumulative impact of these observed issues significantly compromised the democratic integrity of the election process."
-- Montenegro-based European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO)
Hungary and Russia were among those that welcomed Georgian Dream's victory, often accusing the West of interfering in the process.
"Despite interference attempts, the Georgian people made their choice clear: the patriotic, family supporting governing party achieved a sweeping victory in the election.
"During our remaining [EU] presidency, and of course beyond, we will give our Georgian friends every support they can to help them succeed in their European integration efforts."
-- Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto
"Georgians won! Well done."
-- Margarita Simonyan, chief editor of the Kremlin-funded news agencies RT and Sputnik
