Tbilisi court rejects 11 cases challenging election results in Georgia

According to News Georgia on November 14, the Tbilisi court rejected all 11 lawsuits filed by Georgian opposition parties and non-governmental organizations seeking to invalidate the protocols issued by the regional election commissions.

The plaintiffs, including the “Unity-National Movement” and “Strong Georgia” coalitions as well as the Young Lawyers Association of Georgia, claimed that voting secrecy was violated during the parliamentary elections.

The decision came at a time when the pro-EU opposition rejected this proposal recognize victory It was requested by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has close ties to Russia. Controversial results triggered large scale protests In Tbilisi.

Opposition parties argue that the lack of transparency of ballot papers violates privacy by allowing outsiders to see voters’ preferences. Cases of bribery and intimidation of voters and interference with election observers were also reported.

Judge Iveri Abashidze dismissed the cases as “unfounded”. Although filed separately, the cases were consolidated into a single hearing in which the Central Election Commission (CEC) was the defendant.

Representative of the “Unity-National Movement” Tamar Kordzaya accused the judge of ignoring the evidence and claimed that the issue was “pre-decided”. News Georgia.

The opposition has one last chance to object to the results after the CEC publishes its final protocol by November 21.

Previously, the court invalidated the results in 30 ballot boxes on the grounds that voting secrecy was violated.

Official results show Georgian Dream won about 54% of the vote, but opposition leaders and international observers highlighted widespread allegations of intimidation, ballot stuffing and vote buying.

On October 27, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the parliament would be established. approve the government despite objections from the opposition. Meanwhile, opposition leaders called on international actors not to recognize the results.

The Georgian Dream has been accused of democratic backsliding and pushing the South Caucasus country closer to the Kremlin. Earlier this year, the controversial “foreign agents” law led to mass protests and violent police crackdowns.

Following the election, the European Commission announced the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession process, underlining the growing rift between Tbilisi and the West.

If the Georgian Dream continues on its path, we will not be able to see them as a democratic partner, expert says

Georgia stands at a crossroads. The parliamentary elections on 26 October were presented as a choice between increasing authoritarianism and drift into the Kremlin’s orbit, on the one hand, and Georgia’s EU hopes on the other. A group of pro-European parties hoped to overthrow the Georgian Dream.