Georgian President: We do not recognise "Russian elections"

Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia, declared on 27 October that she does not recognise the country’s recent parliamentary elections, labelling them as "Russian elections" and urged the public to join mass protests.

Source:  European Pravda, citing Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus) 

Details: Zourabichvili stated that the elections were marked by extensive falsification and amounted to the confiscation of voters’ rights.

Quote: "All methods we have seen used in other countries were applied here. Additionally, modern technologies to whitewash falsification were deployed. We have never seen anything like this. We are witnesses and victims of a Russian special operation, a hybrid war waged against our people and our country," she said.

The president further referred to the elections as "Russian elections" and accused the government of depriving citizens of constitutional rights.

Quote: "They took away our electoral institution because, after these elections, it is hard to imagine what future elections will look like unless something changes. They have stripped us of our constitutional right to choose," Zourabichvili added.

She reiterated that she does not accept the results announced by the Central Election Commission. "I do not recognise these elections. Recognising them would be akin to recognising Russian dominance over Georgia. I did not come to this country for that, and our ancestors didn’t live for that. We will not accept this. No one can take away Georgia’s European future," she said.

Details: Zourabichvili called on people to defend their vote and gather in Rustaveli Square at 19:00 on 28 October to declare to the world: "We do not recognise these elections."

European Council President Charles Michel, in his first statement on the Georgian parliamentary elections, urged Georgian authorities to investigate reported violations. He also announced plans to raise the issue of Georgia at an informal EU summit in November.

Opposition parties in Georgia announced early Sunday that they do not recognise the 26 October election results, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of "stealing" the elections and calling for protests.

Key European and Canadian parliamentarians believe the EU should not recognise the election results in Georgia and should consider imposing personal sanctions.

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