Georgia's Pro-Putin Party Wins Contested Election, Further Distancing the Country from the US and Europe

Georgia's pro-Western president is urging his citizens to protest the disputed parliamentary election results, which he believes benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite Georgia's border with Russia.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili stated that as the last independent institution, she cannot recognize these elections because it would legitimize Russia's takeover of Georgia. Our ancestors suffered too much for us to surrender our European future.

The loss of the opposition could hinder Georgia's efforts to join the European Union and strengthen its ties with the West, potentially leaving it more vulnerable to Russian influence.

Since becoming president of Russia in 1999, Putin's goal has been to reintegrate former Soviet states under Russia's control, and the election result represents a win for him, according to Rebekah Koffler, a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, who shared her thoughts with Planet Chronicle Digital.

Koffler stated that while there is currently no evidence of vote manipulation after casting, Putin's standard practice is to use influence operations to sway presidential elections through financing, intimidation, and agitation. However, identifying, tracking, and making conclusive analysis about such activities is extremely difficult.

The U.S. is supporting Georgia's pro-European leader and others seeking to break free from Russia's control.

Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, pointed out the occurrence of inconsistencies and intermittent violence, and stated that international observers have not deemed the outcome to be impartial.

Blinken condemned all violations of international norms and called for a full investigation into all election-related reports, as stated in a statement.

Georgia is facing a critical juncture. Georgian Dream, the ruling party, must acknowledge that their actions could have immediate repercussions on their economic and security plans. Russia has profited from spreading discord and falsehoods, as stated by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., a senior member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho., the committee's ranking member, in a joint statement.

The senators acknowledged the Georgian people's right to protest peacefully and demand respect for this fundamental democratic right.

Georgian Dream, backed by Russia, declared victory in the election on Saturday with approximately 54% of the vote. The united opposition received 38%. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban congratulated Georgian Dream and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze before the results were released. Orban visited Tbilisi to further legitimize the government's disputed victory.

Georgian Dream's victory in the election has been rejected by many opposition figures, who claim it was stolen and rigged.

The Georgian president and numerous Western observers affirmed that the election results were tainted by inconsistencies, including fraud and vote stuffing.

The OSCE noted in a statement that the election was "characterized by a tense atmosphere and numerous instances of physical confrontations and voter intimidation." European Council President Charles Michel is calling for an investigation into the alleged irregularities.

If mass protests occur and are met with violence from security forces, tensions could escalate further.

Polls show that up to 83% of Georgians aspire to join the EU, but the Georgian Dream Party has hindered Georgia's efforts to do so since it became a candidate member in 2023. The EU put Georgia's process on hold after a controversial "foreign agent" law was passed, requiring citizens, NGOs, media outlets, and other civil society organizations that receive over 20% in funding from abroad to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Ministry.

After the passing of the pro-Kremlin foreign agent law, the U.S. imposed sanctions and travel bans on Georgian officials who supported the law and security agencies responsible for suppressing dissent. Additionally, the State Department halted $95 million in aid to the government.