Within the newest parliamentary elections held in Georgia on 26 October, the Georgian individuals’s dream of a European future was stolen from them. Much more so, the dream of independence itself.
Sarcastically, this was completed by the pro-Russian get together referred to as Georgian Dream, which is now in energy. Or relatively, the Kremlin did it with the assistance of its henchmen. Russia doesn’t let go of nations it considers its colonies.
In keeping with the Central Election Fee of Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream get together received 53.93% of the vote. In the meantime, the opposition events collectively gained virtually 38% of the vote: Coalition for Change – 11.03%, Unity – Nationwide Motion – 10.16%, Sturdy Georgia – 8.81%, and Gakharia – For Georgia – 7.77%. Nevertheless, unbiased exit polls confirmed an total majority of votes gained by the opposition events.
By way of fraud, these elections surpassed even the final ones in 2020, when the identical pro-Russian get together of the odious Bidzina Ivanishvili got here to energy. Opposition politicians then didn’t put up a severe combat, and Western elites made offers with the brand new Georgian authorities, turning a blind eye to the trampled democracy.
A lot of violations have been reported by all observers. Particularly, the worldwide mission ENEMO famous that the elections in Georgia have been held ‘in a polarized and restrictive environment that undermined inclusiveness, transparency and fairness, which significantly compromised the democratic integrity of the electoral process’. As well as, ENEMO observers expressed considerations in regards to the ‘independence and impartiality of the Central Election Commission (CEC)’. Even the OSCE, which is commonly criticized for its very reasonable response to violations of democratic norms, famous bribery and ‘numerous reports of pressure on voters’.
However the greatest affirmation of the stolen outcomes was the truth that Georgian Dream introduced its victory even earlier than the official election outcomes have been introduced. They merely drew up the numbers upfront. Solely to have a manoeuvre for bargaining with Western elites, they have been ashamed to register by way of the CEC absolutely the majority of 56%, which was given to them by the exit ballot of the pro-government Imedi TV channel.
The response of the Western world to the fraud this time (in addition to final time) was relatively sluggish. ‘We call on the Central Election Commission of Georgia and other relevant authorities to fulfil their duty to investigate and review election violations and allegations in a prompt, transparent and independent manner. These violations must be clarified and addressed. This is a necessary step to restore confidence in the electoral process,’ the European Fee and EU Excessive Consultant Josep Borrell stated in a joint assertion. The US additionally referred to as for an investigation into the violations. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken issued a separate assertion on the matter.
However there have been those that didn’t flip a blind eye to the transformation of Georgia right into a Russian colony. ‘The picture that is emerging in Georgia is clear – the elections were stolen by Putin’s puppet government in Tbilisi. I stand with the people of Georgia as they defend their freedom, their rights and their future,’ former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on the X community. In a joint assertion, European parliamentarians additionally referred to as for non-recognition of the election ends in Georgia by the civilized world. The assertion was signed by the chairmen of the committees on overseas and European affairs of Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Eire, Ukraine, Poland, Canada, in addition to the deputy speaker of the Swedish parliament and one MEP.
The Georgian opposition instantly defended the selection of its individuals. From behind bars, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili declared a stolen victory, non-recognition of the election outcomes and referred to as on the individuals to protest. ‘These elections were taken away from the Georgian people, so we are obliged to constant demonstrations and civil disobedience,’ he stated. Tina Bokuchava, the pinnacle of his Unity – Nationwide Motion get together, additionally declared that she wouldn’t acknowledge the official outcomes. ‘The Georgian Central Election Commission fulfilled Ivanishvili’s dirty order,’ she stated. And Nika Gvaramia, the chief of the Coalition for Change, accused the Georgian Dream of finishing up a constitutional coup.
Salome Zurabishvili, President of Georgia, additionally sided with the Georgians in defending their selection, declaring in a particular tackle to the nation that the elections wouldn’t be acknowledged and calling on residents to take motion. ‘We have witnessed and become victims of a Russian special operation, a hybrid war waged against our people, against our country,’ she stated.
The Georgian diaspora can be in opposition to Russian traitors, which was confirmed by their votes. Among the many individuals who weren’t reached by Russian propaganda or intimidation by the present Georgian authorities, the Georgian Dream managed to win solely a depressing 15% of the vote. Tamaz Somkhishvili, a widely known British investor and philanthropist of Georgian origin, referred to as on his countrymen to defend their selection of their homeland and reminded them of how Georgians did it throughout the Rose Revolution.
However now the state of affairs is extra severe. The nation’s very sovereignty is at stake. Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that the nation’s authorities will probably be accredited regardless of the opposition’s refusal to acknowledge the outcomes of the vote. And the absence of opposition in parliament is not going to cease the nation from turning right into a Russian colony. The Russian henchmen who seized energy in Sakartvelo will go to the very finish, suppressing protests. Kakha Koladze, the pro-government mayor of Tbilisi, has brazenly acknowledged this.
The destiny of the Georgian individuals will probably be determined tonight on Rustaveli Sq. within the capital. The individuals who will come to defend their selection right this moment should perceive that the strategies of the Rose Revolution after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it additionally considers its colony, will now not work. The proud individuals of Georgia should put every little thing, together with their lives, on the road for his or her independence. Simply as Ukrainians did throughout the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. There is no such thing as a different option to defeat the Russian world.
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