American congressmen, including the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Democrat Gerry Connolly, and the head of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Republican Mike Turner, who is also the Chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, have expressed "deep concern" regarding the parliamentary elections held in Georgia.
News
Trending stories
- 1 Protests Erupt in Abkhazia Over Russia-Favored Law, Opposition Members Arrested
- 2 Kobakhidze: German Chancellor Should Be More Concerned About His Own Problems
- 3 Edison: 13% Discrepancy Between Exit Polls and CEC Results Suggests Manipulation
- 4 US-Sanctioned Russian Propagandist Present in Georgia During Elections
- 5 Judge of Tetritskaro Annuls Results of 30 Precincts Over Vote Secrecy Violations
- 6 President’s Lawsuit on Elections Registered by Constitutional Court
A joint statement issued by the congressmen noted that the election was marred by reports of vote-buying, voter intimidation, misuse of administrative resources, and questionable appointments to election oversight boards.
"The October 26th elections presented Georgia an invaluable opportunity to prove to the international community, to NATO countries and the European Union that Georgia remains firmly committed to its Euro-Atlantic path.
Unfortunately, through campaign rhetoric blaming the West for Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, foreign agents’ legislation passed to root out civil society, and lack of accountability for violent attacks against political opposition figures, Georgia’s government provided no such reassurance.
These elections, which posed significant challenges to the democratic process, moved Georgia significantly further away from joining NATO and the European Union," the statement reads.
The congressmen expressed concern that Georgia could regress from a developing democracy into an autocratic state: "Widespread pressure on public sector employees to vote for the incumbent party and a refusal to investigate violent attacks on political opponents are authoritarian behaviors, and a drastic departure from the vibrant, multiparty emerging democracy that once defined Georgia."
The congressmen also expressed their support for the pro-Western Georgian people, who remain loyal to Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
