The election commission reported that the ruling Georgian Dream party secured 53% of votes, while the opposition alliance received 38.28%. The opposition, led by UNM’s Tina Bokushava, claims the results are falsified. President Salome Zurabishvili accused the ruling party of election manipulation and violence at polling stations. With international observers monitoring the election, allegations of voter intimidation and ballot box tampering were raised, complicating claims of victory from both sides.
The election commission disclosed that with 70 percent of the constituencies counted, the ruling Georgian Dream party secured 53 percent of the votes, while the opposition alliance garnered 38.28 percent. The opposition has dismissed these preliminary results as ‘manipulated.’
“We do not accept these falsified results from the rigged elections,” stated Tina Bokuchava, the leader of the largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), on Sunday evening (local time).
Significant Tension
Following the parliamentary elections, which are viewed as a critical turning point, both the government and the opposition are asserting their victory. Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party, announced the party’s success after the polls concluded. Conversely, pro-European opposition parties and President Salome Zurabishvili, aligned with them, claimed that the opposition had achieved an overall majority in parliament within this Caucasus nation.
Media forecasts leading up to the election varied considerably. Imedi TV, affiliated with the ruling party, projected a 56 percent outcome for Georgian Dream. In contrast, Formula TV, sympathetic to the opposition, estimated that the ruling party would receive 41 percent and the opposition collectively 52 percent. The pro-opposition channel Mtavari Archi TV predicted 42 percent for the ruling party and 48 percent for the opposition overall.
Ivanishvili, a former prime minister, proclaimed that Georgian Dream would maintain governance for another term. “It’s rare for a party to achieve such success under challenging circumstances,” he told supporters. “I assure you that our country will experience tremendous progress during the next four years.”
Claims of Election Irregularities
Conversely, President Zurabishvili reiterated allegations of electoral manipulation by the ruling party. “European Georgia wins with 52 percent despite the manipulation attempts and without the diaspora votes,” she exclaimed on social media.
Bokuchava, head of the UNM, informed Reuters that Georgian Dream had actually lost the election. “We’ll wait for the official final outcome, but the losing party should have the decency to acknowledge defeat and step aside. Georgia has chosen a future aligned with Europe,” she asserted.
Zurabishvili highlighted violent incidents on election day. “I want to bring attention to the deeply alarming acts of violence at various polling stations,” she stated on online platforms. Videos circulating on social media depicted violent confrontations at multiple polling places.
The elections were marred by serious allegations of vote tampering and intimidation. The Young Lawyers’ election monitoring group reported “significant electoral violations.” Additionally, opposition parties released videos suggesting ballot boxes were obstructed in the southeastern village of Sadachlo, leading the electoral commission to later invalidate the votes from that area.
“They are obstructing ballot boxes, tormenting voters, and assaulting observers,” Bokuchava lamented. The UNM is associated with imprisoned former president Mikhail Saakashvili. Meanwhile, Georgian Dream’s Executive Secretary, Mdinaradze, dismissed the allegations as a “provocation” orchestrated by the opposition.
This parliamentary election has drawn significant international scrutiny. According to the Central Election Commission, over 60 global organizations, including the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and NATO, are involved in monitoring the election. MEP Reinhold Lopatka (ÖVP), observing on behalf of the European Parliament, commented on Saturday, “You can see that many international as well as local observers are actively engaged.”