“I am asking for a transparent inquiry. The Central Election Commission of Georgia and relevant authorities must investigate irregularities, pressure and intimidation on voters impacting public trust in the process, reported by observers. Those irregularities must be addressed swiftly, transparently and independently,” stated Josep Borrell, the highest representative of the European Union and Vice President of the European Commission, in another statement regarding the parliamentary elections in Georgia.
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According to Borrell, the developments in the country after the elections are very disturbing.
"International observers reported violations during the election campaign as well as on election day. They have also not declared the elections to be free and fair. Georgia is an EU candidate country and as such it has to demonstrate its commitment to European values, starting with full transparency in the election process. Integrity of elections and upholding the rule of law are cornerstones of democracy and an integral part and fundamentals of the EU accession path," Borrell said.
The Vice President of the European Commission also stated that he had asked the Political and Security Committee to meet today for an urgent discussion of the "difficult situation in Georgia." He included this issue in the agenda of the November Foreign Affairs Council.
"People of Georgia have been demonstrating for months their attachment to democratic values and their country advancing on the EU path. They deserve clarity on the election process, to have certainty about the legitimacy of the next government. It is important that protests and government reaction to them remain peaceful. The democratic backsliding in the country needs to be reversed and a conducive environment guaranteed for media, civil society and opposition, which make up for a pluralistic, democratic society," said Josep Borrell.
As per data from the Central Election Commission of Georgia, Georgian Dream received almost 54% of the votes in the parliamentary elections. The legitimacy of this result is not recognized by the opposition parties that crossed the threshold: Coalition for Change (11%), Unity - National Movement (10%), Strong Georgia (8.8%), and Gakharia For Georgia (7.7%). One of their main demands is an international investigation. On October 28, at a rally held on Rustaveli Avenue, the opposition voiced their demand for new elections conducted by the International Election Administration. President Salome Zourabichvili also believes that the elections were "totally falsified."
