Salome Zurabishvili recognized the parliamentary elections in Georgia for “illegal” and marked by widespread electoral fraud showing signs of influence Russia.
According to the president of Georgia, cases have been recorded in which identity cards with the same number were used to register “up to 17-20 votes in different regions”.
She also alleged the use of more “classic methods” of voter fraud, including “buying votes, exerting pressurein particular on holders of public offices, putting pressure on the families of prisoners who may be promised release.
Scandal after the elections in Georgia. Salome Zurabishvili reveals the story behind the scenes
“The money was distributed visibly in minibuses at the exit of the polling stations,” she said. – It is very difficult to accuse the government and it is not my role, but the methodology is Russian – she said in an interview with the AFP news agency.
Zurabishvili also pointed to the apparently unreliable voting results for the ruling party in areas with significant ethnic minority populationssuch as the town of Marneuli.
– In some towns and villages of ethnic minorities, the results were 97 percent in favor of the Georgian Dream – she noted, adding that in Georgia “they haven't seen anything like this since Stalinist times.”
Parliamentary elections in Georgia. President: Theft of our future in Europe
Referring to the demonstrations that took place in the country, she said that Georgians “know well that they should not threaten the stability of the country.” – But this does not mean that we should be complacent and accept this theft – she added.
– It's not only theft of our voice… it's stealing our future in Europe – said the pro-European president.
Zurabishvili said Georgia could only get back on the path to EU membership “if there is a change in policy.”
She called for “a clear willingness on the part of the authorities to acknowledge part of the fraud, accept it and immediately promise or implement it cancellation of regulations regarding foreign agents“LGBTQ people”.
– There are several laws that they are turning this country into a Russian-style regime – she commented.
Georgia. Confusion after the parliamentary elections
According to official information from the Central Electoral Commission in completed The Georgian Dream party won the parliamentary elections. The party that has been ruling the country for nearly 12 years won 54.23 percent. votes. In second place was the opposition “Coalition for Change”, which received 10.8 percent. votes, and the podium with a result of 10.1 percent. closed the “Nation Unity Movement”.
The opposition and the pro-Western president do not recognize these results.
On Monday evening A crowd of protesters gathered in front of the parliament building in the capital of the country – Tbilisi. During the demonstration, one of the leaders of the Georgian opposition, Giorgi Vashadze, spoke and announced that the opposition forces they will demand a repeat of the parliamentary elections.
He added that they would be carried out under the authority of the “international administration”.
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