Observers warn Georgia elections marred by intimidation, interference – POLITICO

Two foreign election observers who spoke to POLITICO on condition of anonymity said they personally witnessed irregularities in the counting and physical violence at the polls.

“Reports of irregularities in the Georgian elections raise serious concerns,” Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said in a message posted online. “We closely follow the evaluations of international and local observers.”

Kornely Kakachia, president of the Georgian Institute of Politics, said the opposition will have to present strong evidence of violations if it wants to challenge the results and call for demonstrations.

“Unless the opposition provides evidence of violations, the protest may not gain traction. “If they prove that the violations are systematic, they will be supported by the public.”

Opposition leaders will meet later Sunday evening with pro-Western president Salome Zourabichvili, who declared that victory belonged to the opposition “despite attempts to rig the election.” The prospect of protests raises the possibility of a resumption of the long-running demonstration movement, in which police violently cracked down on activists on the streets throughout the summer.

Georgia’s application to join the bloc, which was granted EU candidate status in December, was seen Suspended over warnings of regression in human rights. In recent months, Georgian Dream has implemented a Russian-style legislative package that brands Western-funded NGOs and media outlets as “foreign agents” and imposes sweeping restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community.

The United States imposed sanctions on Georgian Dream politicians and police officers who it said were responsible for repression and violence against peaceful protesters after the new laws came into effect.