The October 26, 2024, parliamentary elections in Georgia have raised eyebrows.
There are allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation, and procedural irregularities.
The ruling party, which won the elections with 54% of the vote, denies these claims
International election monitors noted deep political polarization, an uneven playing field due to financial imbalances.
European Parliament: Georgia's October 26 Elections 'Manipulated' – What Does the Resolution Entail?
On November 28, the European Parliament passed a resolution asserting that the parliamentary elections conducted in Georgia on October 26 were manipulated. The document dismisses the election results and advocates for sanctions against the leaders of the Georgian Dream party.
In accordance with the resolution, the European Parliament declines to acknowledge the election results and demands new parliamentary elections in an "enhanced electoral environment supervised by an independent and impartial electoral administration. "
This constitutes the first resolution enacted by the European Parliament following the October 26 elections.
The document is entitled: "On the Democratic Crisis in Georgia, Exacerbated by the Recent Parliamentary Elections and Alleged Fraud. "
The resolution garnered near-unanimous backing and was proposed by five principal European Parliament factions: the European People’s Party, Social Democrats, Greens, Liberals, and European Conservatives.
The Eurasian Georgia?
"With the CEC announcing ‘Georgian Dream’ as the victor, Georgia may have concluded a chapter in its history. "
The resolution was endorsed by 444 MEPs, with 72 opposing and 82 abstaining.
Although the resolution lacks legal binding authority, it acts as a significant political and symbolic document, reflecting the perspective of the directly elected body of the European Union.
Key Provisions of the Resolution:
- Critique of the Election: The resolution distinctly asserts that the October elections did not conform to international standards for democratic elections. It underscores multiple violations, encompassing voter intimidation, bribery, impediments for observers, vote manipulation, and confiscation of voter IDs.
- Call for New Elections: The European Parliament denies recognition of the election outcomes and demands new parliamentary elections under improved conditions and supervised by an independent electoral administration.
- Sanctions Against Bidzina Ivanishvili: Particular emphasis is placed on the involvement of Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the Georgian Dream party, in the “democratic decline” and detriment to the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations in favor of closer relations with Russia. The European Parliament advocates for personal sanctions against him.
- Sanctions Against Other Georgian Dream Leaders: The resolution proposes imposing sanctions on additional Georgian Dream leaders, including Irakli Kobakhidze, Kakha Kaladze, Shalva Papuashvili, and Irakli Garibashvili.
- Request for Mikhail Saakashvili’s Pardon: The European Parliament calls upon President Salome Zourabichvili to grant clemency to former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been incarcerated for four years.
Limitations of the Resolution
The European Parliament itself lacks the authority to impose sanctions. This power resides with EU member states, which make such determinations based on consensus.
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, at least four countries; Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, and Bulgaria currently do not support sanctions against Ivanishvili and representatives of the Georgian government.