According to preliminary results, the most powerful person won the parliamentary election in Georgia. However, the opposition politicians don’t recognize this victory, and claim the elections were rigged.
The publication notes that billionaire Bidzina ivanishvili founder of the ruling “Georgian Dream”, the opposition, and foreign diplomats view the elections as a pivotal moment that will determine whether Georgia moves closer to the West or retreats to Russia.
“If confirmed, “Georgian Dream’s” victory will be a major blow to Georgians hoping for closer integration with Europe during the vote. The vote was announced as a decision between the West or Russia,” writes Reuters.
The BBC also reports about the parliamentary election in Georgia. It writes that the ruling Georgian party, which is becoming increasingly authoritarian, declared victory when preliminary results showed it was clearly in the lead of a crucial vote focused on the future of the country in Europe.
The BBC reports that the preliminary results are very different from the exit polls. The head of an opposition party said that “the votes were stolen by the Georgian people.”
The publication notes that Georgia received the status of a “candidate country” in December. However, due to democratic setbacks and in particular the adoption of an “foreign influences” law in the Russian style, the European Union has suspended this step.
The BBC writes: “The USSR has been gone for more than 30 years, but Moscow still views much of the former Soviet empire as its backyard and sphere of influence.”
Read More @ www.interpressnews.ge