Georgia’s opposition rejects parliamentary election results as pro-Russian ruling party claims victory with 54%

Georgia’s pro-Russian ruling Georgian Dream party has claimed victory in the 26 October parliamentary elections, securing more than 54% of votes, according to Georgia’s Central Election Commission. The official results show a significant deviation from pre-election polls and opposition exit polls.

The ruling Georgian Dream party is working to entrench the country’s pro-Russian course, pursued since it came to power. The EU has suspended contacts with Georgia following the government’s adoption of Russian-style “foreign agents” and “family values” laws, halting the country’s path to EU membership.

According to pre-election polling, Georgian Dream was expected to receive 35% of votes, while the combined pro-European opposition parties were projected to secure a parliamentary majority. The polls showed the following distribution:

• Coalition for Change (Gvaramia, Melia, Girchi, Droa): 19%
• Unity (National Movement, Strategy Agmashenebeli, European Georgia): 16%
• Strong Georgia (Lelo, For the People, Freedom Square, Citizens): 9%
• Gakharia – For Georgia: 8%
• Girchi (Iago Khvichia): 3%
• Other parties: 10%

However, Georgia’s Central Election Commission reported vastly different results, with 99.3% of polling stations counted as of 27 October morning. The commission claims Georgian Dream received 54.086% of votes, with Coalition for Change securing 10.9% and Unity-National Movement getting only 10.1%. The total pro-European opposition vote allegedly amounted to 37.3%. Voter turnout reached 58.94%.

Before the official results emerged, exit polls from opposition channels Mtavari and Formula indicated Georgian Dream was receiving less than 50% of votes, with opposition forces projected to secure a parliamentary majority.

Election fraud and “coup” allegations

The stark contrast between polls and official results has fueled opposition claims of electoral fraud. RFE/RL’s Echo of the Caucasus reports that the United National Movement, led by former President Mikheil Saakashvili, has refused to recognize the results of the parliamentary elections, according to party leader Tina Bokuchava.

Nika Gvaramia, leader of the Coalition for Change, declared that the elections were stolen and accused Georgian Dream of staging a constitutional coup.

“[Georgian] Dream is the author of the constitutional coup and will be held accountable according to Georgian law,” she said at a briefing

Transparency International Georgia’s Executive Director Eka Gigauri stated that civic organizations reject the preliminary results, citing “unprecedented influence on voters’ will and acts of violence.”

BREAKING:

Local journalists document blatant election violations in Georgia

Some ballots were reportedly spoiled by pen marks left in the column for the Georgian Dream party.

If voters select a different party on such ballots, their votes are considered invalid.… pic.twitter.com/T3xSkK55cv

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 26, 2024

The election day was marked by numerous irregularities. Hromadske reports that in Marneuli, security footage captured a Georgian Dream official stuffing multiple ballots into a voting box. Fighting erupted at several locations across Georgia, including Tbilisi.

Russia stuffing ballot boxes in Georgia.

The world cannot let Russia take over another country pic.twitter.com/AzWRytxoiT

— Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) October 26, 2024

The “My Voice” monitoring mission documented “serious and substantial violations” aimed at undermining the election results.

“A sophisticated election fraud scheme was revealed, using methods such as disrupting the verification system, violating marking procedures, and preventing observers from monitoring voter identification procedures,” the organization stated.

President Salome Zurabishvili reported “violent acts” across different regions, including damage to media equipment, noting she couldn’t contact the Interior Minister and his deputy.

The elections were monitored by 23,133 observers from 101 local organizations and 1,713 observers from 64 international organizations.

Pro-Russian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has congratulated Georgian Dream on their “convincing” victory, stating that Georgians “know what’s best for their country.” Echo of the Caucasus reports that Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev also extended congratulations, viewing the results as support for “development, stability and traditional values.”

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