The European Parliament has requested a re-run of parliamentary elections in Georgia within one year, under conditions of independent election administration and international monitoring, reports News.bg.
This is in response to the serious irregularities that accompanied the October 26 elections, which, according to the MEPs, were "neither free nor fair". They stress that the election results represent the country's continued retreat from democracy, which the ruling party's "Georgian Dream" bears full responsibility.
Criticism of the electoral process and call for sanctions
The European Parliament condemns numerous violations in the electoral process, including:
- Intimidation of voters;
- Vote manipulation;
- Interference in the work of election observers and the media;
- Signals of tampering related to electronic voting machines.
The MEPs emphasize that the results announced by the Central Election Commission of Georgia do not reflect the will of the Georgian people. They call on the international community not to recognize these results.
The European Parliament is pushing for personal sanctions against high-ranking Georgian officials, including:
- Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze;
- Tbilisi Mayor and General Secretary of "Georgian Dream" Kakha Kaladze;
- The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili;
- Former Prime Minister and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Political implications and relations with the EU
The MEPs warn that recently passed anti-democratic legislation in Georgia, including the "Transparency and Foreign Influence Act", has effectively halted the country's European integration process. They call on the EU to limit official contacts with the Georgian government and parliament and support an independent international investigation into allegations of election manipulation.
The role of Russia and a warning to the Georgian authorities
The European Parliament condemns Russia's systematic interference in Georgia's democratic processes through disinformation, including that spread by "Georgian Dream" a conspiracy about the "global war party", according to which the opposition would involve the country in a war with Russia at the behest of the West.
The MEPs are warning the Georgian authorities that any attempts to ban legally established political parties will further alienate the country from the EU and completely block the possibility of joining the union. The policies implemented by the "Georgian Dream" are categorically declared incompatible with the Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia.
The MEPs emphasize that democratic reforms and compliance with the rule of law are key to the continuation of the country's European integration process.