“The situation in Georgia is deeply concerning. Extensive Russian interference in the electoral process casts significant doubt on the legitimacy of the parliamentary election results. An independent international investigation is urgently needed. The EU must stand in solidarity,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Platform X.
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Today, he addressed questions related to Georgia's parliamentary elections in Budapest, before the informal meeting of the European Council, and expressed disappointment not only with the results of the elections but also with the numerous violations uncovered during the process.
"I think this time is not enough to express our deep concern because I am disappointed not only by the result but also by the many numerous violations of the electoral process and this is a matter of concern.
So, this is the reason why we have to investigate this election process. I do not trust that institutions of Georgia are able to do that. It would be too naive to expect that they are able and I think we need international independent investigation on the process.
This time, the scope and the intensity of Russian interference in the elections process was as big as ever before and this is a matter of concern. I am not talking only about Georgia, I am talking about Moldova but the outcome of the elections in Moldova was different," said the President of Lithuania.
When asked what the EU's response could be, Gitanas Nauseda stated that it is crucial to send a very clear signal.
"If you are doing this, you cannot expect to come closer to the European Union. You are moving in the opposite direction, moving away, drifting away from the European Union. And I hope the signal should be received, should be understood, and I hope that Georgia is still able to revise its course. But for the time being, I do not see any big probability that it will happen in the nearest region
So, this personality [Bidzina Ivanishvili], of course, stands behind all these processes, and we know how deep and how intense his relations with the Russian Federation. So this is the reason why we are not only talking about drifting away from the European Union, but drifting... closer to the Russian Federation because you cannot choose the middle way. If you decide and if you do some geopolitical steps, you cannot be in the middle - you are going westwards or you are going eastwards. That's simple," said Gitanas Nauseda.
