Russia Accuses U.S. of Election Interference in Georgia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, September 13, 2024
On September 12, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the U.S. of plotting to interfere in Georgia's upcoming elections by using the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). In her response to media inquiries, Zakharova claimed that the ODIHR is preparing to "heat up the situation in Georgia" before the elections. She warned that if the election results are unfavorable to the West, ODIHR's findings might be used to provoke protests or challenge the results, potentially leading to another "color revolution."
Zakharova denounced ODIHR as a tool of the "collective West," asserting that it fulfills political orders and delivers conclusions tailored to its sponsors' expectations. "ODIHR is fulfilling the political orders given to it and provides the conclusions and findings that its sponsors expect," she stated. She criticized the ODIHR's interim reports, which are often released shortly before elections, alleging they are produced by "a small group of hired persons who bear no responsibility for their actions." According to Zakharova, these reports do not accurately reflect the situation but rather align with a predetermined narrative: "The result is not a reflection of the real state of affairs but an essay on a theme set by the customer."
Zakharova advised disregarding ODIHR's findings, suggesting, "International observer obligations can be fulfilled without involving ODIHR." She argued that elections can proceed effectively without the organization's involvement and that "the legitimacy of elections is determined by the will of the voters and nothing else, not by ODIHR's assessments."
Additionally, Zakharova mentioned that Russia sometimes sends its experts to ODIHR missions upon request from friendly countries. These experts are meant to "monitor the voting process directly, counteract the excesses of the West, and obtain an adequate picture of what is happening," she said. This, she argued, helps to "significantly mitigate the potential for pressure on local authorities and prevent manipulations with statistical data."
