Pro-Western opposition groups in Georgia have rejected the election results that declared victory for the increasingly authoritarian ruling party, Georgian Dream, following a crucial vote on the country’s future in Europe.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, led by billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, claimed an outright win with 54% of the vote, according to the central election commission, which had counted over 99% of districts. However, the initial results were notably different from exit polls conducted by Western organizations.
Tina Bokuchava, from the opposition United National Movement, accused the ruling party of electoral fraud, claiming that the vote was “stolen from the Georgian people.” Nika Gvaramia, another opposition leader, described Georgian Dream’s actions as a “constitutional coup,” while analysts expressed skepticism over the party’s increased vote share compared to four years ago.
Both Georgian Dream and the four pro-EU opposition groups vying to end its 12-year rule had earlier declared victory based on conflicting exit poll data.
Voter turnout was high on Saturday in this South Caucasus nation bordering Russia, but there were widespread reports of voting irregularities and violence near polling stations. An opposition official south of Tbilisi told the BBC he was attacked, first by a local Georgian Dream councilor, then by “another 10 men” who joined in.
My Vote, a coalition of 2,000 election observers, stated that due to the scale of reported fraud and violence, the preliminary results did not “reflect the will of Georgian citizens.”
The opposition framed the vote as a crucial choice between aligning with Europe or Russia. Many observers saw this election as the most significant since Georgia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.