The Prime Minister also said that the current ruling party will approve the new government, despite protests.
Salome Zurabishvili, the Georgian president, has called for mass protests after she branded Saturday’s parliamentary election a “Russian Operation” and declared that the vote was conducted under conditions of total fraud and amounted in essence to the confiscation the voices of voters.
Georgian government is distancing themselves from the EU, and slowing down its European integration. This is especially after adopting Russian-style laws that limit organizations with foreign funding.
“All methods we have seen in different countries were used.” The falsification was also whitewashed using the latest technologies. This has never been done before. We are now the victims and witnesses of a Russian hybrid war waged against us, against our people,” Zurabishvili said, according to European Pravda citing Echo of the Caucasus.
The president’s strong position comes at a time when international observers have documented significant violations of the election process. A joint observation team of 529 observers from 41 countries reported widespread voter harassment, pressure on civil societies, and unequal playing fields.
PACE delegation leader Iulian Bulai highlighted “high polarisation in the political and media landscapes, hate speech towards the opposition and civil societies, and antagonism toward the office of President,” along widespread cases of vote buying and party-organized threats, particularly rural areas.
According to preliminary results the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party received 54.273%, which is significantly higher than the pre-election polling predictions of 35%. The pro-European parties that were expected to win a majority in parliament have refused to accept the results citing numerous violations.
“We continue expressing deep concern about the democratic backsliding of Georgia.” “The conduct of yesterday’s elections is unfortunately evidence of this effect”, stated Antonio Lopez Isturiz White. Head of the European parliament delegation.
Despite the controversy, and despite the protests, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the parliament would convene as planned and the government would be approved regardless of the opposition refusing to recognize the results.
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