Biden Raises Concerns Over Georgia’s Election Violations and Russian-Influenced Laws
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Thousands of protesters demonstrated against the contested result on Monday night
U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed alarm regarding the recent elections in Georgia, urging the government to address international concerns about widespread electoral violations and to repeal newly implemented laws that resemble those in Russia. The Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the elections, reporting that it secured nearly 54% of the vote.
In his statement, Biden reflected a sentiment shared by the European Union, which has paused Georgia’s bid for EU membership and labeled the latest developments as “deeply worrying.” Georgia’s pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, has contested the election results, alleging that a “Russian special operation” influenced the outcome. She has voiced support for four opposition parties that assert the election was manipulated by an increasingly authoritarian regime under billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Both the U.S. and the EU are calling for a thorough investigation into numerous allegations of intimidation, violence, ballot-stuffing, and violations of the newly introduced electronic voting system. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that Georgians deserve a prompt, transparent, and independent examination of these electoral irregularities.
The response from Biden may resonate strongly with the Georgian populace, as it directly critiques the Georgian Dream leadership. In contrast, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze downplayed the allegations, claiming that only a few polling stations experienced incidents of unrest, while most maintained a “completely peaceful” environment. He shared the platform with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who praised the elections as “free and democratic” without addressing the multitude of reported violations.
Orban’s visit to Tbilisi, occurring just days after the elections, drew ire from many EU member states. Thirteen foreign ministers publicly stated that Orban did not represent the EU in this matter, while Brussels reiterated that independent observers had not deemed the elections free and fair. They characterized the situation in Georgia as “very worrying.”
In recent months, the Georgian Dream government has enacted laws mirroring Russian legislation, such as a “foreign agents” law targeting media and NGOs that receive foreign funding, as well as legislation limiting LGBTQ+ rights. During his visit, Orban criticized the EU’s response, claiming that liberal victories are considered democratic, whereas conservative wins are not.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, also condemned the EU for not recognizing the election results, amplifying the tensions between Hungary and other EU states over how to address the situation in Georgia.
Exit polls from Western opposition media suggested that the combined votes of four opposition parties surpassed those of the Georgian Dream, contradicting the official results declared by the Central Election Commission. The Georgian monitoring group “My Vote” has reported extensive violations documented by its 1,500 observers during the election and prior to it.
They highlighted instances of coercion, including public employees being pressured to submit their identification or have it confiscated, and vulnerable families being offered financial incentives to secure their votes. On election day, reports of vote-buying, ballot-stuffing, and intimidation of observers emerged, raising serious questions about the electoral integrity.
Sharmahd’s daughter, Gazelle, publicly called for investigations into her father’s treatment by the Iranian judiciary, underscoring the severity of the situation. Allegations included that the inking system for voters was improperly implemented, allowing individuals to vote multiple times, and that election officials were complicit in enabling fraudulent activities.
President Zourabichvili confirmed to the BBC that practices like “carousel voting” were evident, where individuals could cast votes multiple times using the same identification. “My Vote” has demanded that the results from 196 polling stations be annulled, claiming these accounted for an excess of 300,000 votes.
In response to the allegations, Prime Minister Kobakhidze defended the election’s legitimacy, asserting it complied with legal standards and denying that the government operates under pro-Russian influence. Meanwhile, Georgia’s election commission has labeled critics’ allegations as part of a “manipulative campaign” and announced plans to recount votes in a selection of polling stations.
The commission has dismissed claims that duplicating voter entries is possible, asserting that each voter is registered only once and that the systems in place ensure proper verification to prevent multiple voting. However, critics, including the president and independent monitoring organizations, argue that the electoral commission lacks independence and is dominated by the ruling party.
Eka Gigauri from Transparency International stated, “This state is captured,” indicating a lack of confidence in the electoral process and the likelihood that no meaningful investigations will occur. The unfolding situation highlights the significant challenges Georgia faces in its democratic processes and its relationship with both the EU and Russia.
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