Washington issues new threat to Georgia
The US has threatened Georgia with “consequences,” after the country's pro-NATO political opposition accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of rigging Saturday’s parliamentary election.
According to the official tally, the Georgian Dream party received almost 54% of the vote, while various opposition parties received 3% to 11%. The victory is expected to give the Georgian Dream at least 90 seats in the 150-member national parliament, allowing it form the Caucasian country's next government.
Four pro-Western opposition parties have refused to recognize the results and said they would not be taking part in the work of the new legislature. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, a former French ambassador to Georgia who acquired citizenship in 2004, refused to recognize the results either and called for protests. A large demonstration was held outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on Monday evening.
Despite Zourabichvili calling the election a “total fraud,” the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reported that it observed no systemic voting irregularities. It did, however, claim to have observed incidents of vote-buying and pressure on public sector employees, but praised the diversity of choices on the ballot.
At a press conference on Monday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the election was held in an “environment shaped by the ruling party’s policies including misuse of public resources, vote buying and voter intimidation.”
“We encourage Georgia’s governing officials to consider the relationship they want with the Euro-Atlantic community rather than strengthening policies that are praised by authoritarians,” Miller added.
“We do not rule out further consequences if the Georgian government’s direction does not change,” he said, urging Tbilisi to start “withdrawing and repealing anti-democratic legislation.”
Earlier on Monday, 13 EU member states issued a statement expressing “deep concern about the current situation in Georgia” and demanding “an impartial inquiry of complaints and remedy of the violations established.”
Western governments have accused Georgia of democratic backsliding and warned that its recent policies could hamper the country’s aspirations to join the EU. In 2024, the Georgian Parliament approved laws that allow NGOs to be labeled ‘foreign agents’ and ban LGBTQ ‘propaganda’ to minors, both of which sparked protests.
The Georgian government has insisted that it would ultimately like to join the EU, but on its own terms. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze argued that the laws were designed to ensure Georgia’s sovereignty and the interests of the people.
“The opposition cannot get over their defeat in the election,” Kobakhidze said on Saturday, accusing his opponents of undermining the law. “No one can undermine the constitutional system of our country,” he added.
