Salome Zourabichvili, the president of Georgia, said on October 27 that she would not recognize the results from the recent parliamentary elections in the country and called on citizens to join her for mass demonstrations.
According to Georgia’s Electoral Commission, the pro-Russian Georgian Dream Party won a majority of votes in the vote on Oct. 26. Pro-EU parties have disputed this result. European monitors have also stated that the elections were marked by intimidation and irregularities.
As reported by the Echo of the Caucasus, President Zourabichvili stated at a press conference held on October 27 that he did not recognize the elections.
“These elections cannot recognized. This is the equivalent of recognizing Georgia’s submission to Russia. No one can take Georgia’s European Future away.”
Zourabichvili described the election results as “a total falsification” by the Russians. She called on citizens to join her in Tbilisi Freedom Square, Rustaveli Avenue, to protest the falsified elections.
“We must stand up and declare that we don’t recognize these elections and we don’t tolerate Russia and their invasion of Georgia in such a form,” she said.
“We will stand united. … I invite you to Rustaveli, tomorrow at 7 pm, so we can declare together to the world that we don’t recognize these elections and that we are defending constitutional right.”
The president’s words echo the words of former opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia who said the results “does not reflect the will” of the Georgians and called for “reasonable protests” to “defend Europe’s future” in the country.
The Georgian Dream Party, founded by the oligarch Bidzina Ilishvili, is bringing the country closer towards Moscow and sabotaging its EU ambitions. Tbilisi adopted the controversial law on foreign agents earlier this year, which led to the EU freezing Georgia’s process of accession even though it had been granted candidate status in December.
The passage of the Foreign Agents Bill sparked protests all over the country.
The party said it would also seek a constitution-wide ban on UNM (one of the leading opposition parties in Georgia founded by former president Mikheil Sakashvili) and other opposition groups.
Georgian opposition groups refused the recognize the results and claimed that the election had been stolen. They cited election monitors who reported various violations in the country, such as ballot stuffing and intimidation of voters.
European election observers have also expressed concerns about Georgia’s electoral system.
“During our observations, we noted the instances of vote buying and dual voting before and during the elections, especially in the rural areas,” said Ioanbulai, the leader of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The presence of cameras and people in front polling booths tracking and possibly controlling the voters led to an atmosphere of pressure and organized intimidation by the party.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, said on October 27 that the Georgian Parliament will approve the Government despite protests from the opposition.
HUR reported that Russian police officers stopped a Kamaz truck on the Kursk-Voronezh Highway on October 27. The truck had civilian license plates. The vehicle was reported to be loaded with North Korean soldiers.
“During our observations, we noted the instances of vote buying and dual voting before and during the elections, especially in the rural areas,” said Ioanbulai, the leader of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
In an interview with state media published on October 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian Defense Ministry was considering “various options,” as a possible response if Ukraine launches a long-range strike against Russia, with Western support.
Andriy Yeermak, the head of the Presidential Office, told Corriere della sera that Ukraine will finalize their formula by November.
Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, said on air that Ukrainian forces are still holding all the dominant heights in Zaporizhzhia oblast near Levadne and are trying to restore their positions.
Andriy Yeermak, Corriere della Sera, said that (President Volodymyr Zelensky) is very clear. He wants all soldiers and refugee abroad to be allowed to vote. “But for the moment, resources must be directed to the war.”
The regional prosecutor’s said that Russian soldiers in Selydove, a town in Donetsk Oblast, have opened fire on civilians at least twice, killing two women and injuring another, the office stated on October 27.
Andrii Sybiha will end his tour of the Middle East and Africa with a visit to Johannesburg and Pretoria. He is seeking to strengthen ties, and drum up support for Ukraine’s peace formula.
According to the central electoral commission, Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream Party captured 54.3% in the Oct. 26, parliamentary elections, with more than 99% of precincts being counted.
Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia of the opposition Gakharia For Georgia Party said that the results announced “does not reflect the will” of the Georgian population and called for “reasonable protests” to “defend European future and the institution” of elections.
Bloomberg reported on October 25, citing unnamed sources, that Germany and France are skeptical about the EU diplomatic services’ proposal to circumvent Hungary‘s veto over 6 billion euros ($6.6billion) in defense aid for Kyiv.
Governor Maxim Egorov reported on his Telegram channel that a drone struck the Michurinsky District of the region around 0:40 am local time and caused a fire. The fire was quickly put out.
The Air Force reported that Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 41 of the 80 Russian Shahed drones launched overnight. The statement stated that 32 drones were lost in Ukraine and one flew towards Belarus.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the casualties of the Russian missile attack on Dnipro’s central-east city Dnipro that hit residential buildings as well as the Mechnikov Hospital late on October 25 have risen to 5 dead and 21 injured.
This includes 1,440 casualties that Russian forces have suffered in the last day.
The chief of the national police in the country said that on October 24, Moscow had funneled $39 million into a scheme run by a pro Russian oligarch to influence election results by paying ordinary people to vote against closer relations with the West.
The Strategic Industries Ministry announced that on October 26, Herman Smetanin, Ukraine’s Minister of Strategic Industries, met with India Ambassador to Ukraine Ravi Shankar to discuss strengthening defence industry cooperation between Kyiv & New Delhi.
Windsor Star, a Canadian media outlet, reported on October 26 that Ukrainian-Canadian film-makers pulled their pro Ukrainian film “Intercepted”, from the Windsor International Film Festival in protest. They learned that it was to be screened alongside the controversial documentary “Russians at War”.
Mahuchikh, who accepted her award, said: “It is a very special moment for me because of the difficult time that Ukraine is going through.” “But, you’re right, I’m happy to be here…for all my people in Ukraine and I hope it brings some joy during this time.”
On October 25, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law allowing foreign volunteers to serve as officers in Ukraine’s International Legion.
During his evening speech on October 26, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that North Korean forces may appear on the front lines fighting alongside Russian forces in the coming weeks.
On Oct. 26, the ruling Georgian Dream Party, led by billionaire Bidzina Ilvanishvili, and groups that aimed to end its 12-year rule, declared victory.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com