The News in Brief
Monday, October 28, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
President Zourabichvili Rejects October 26 Election Results, Calls for Public Protest
President Salome Zourabichvili of Georgia has announced that she does not recognize the results of the October 26 elections, labeling them illegitimate. During a briefing at the Orbelian Palace, together with opposition leaders, she called on citizens to gather at Rustaveli Avenue at 7 PM on October 28 to protest the election outcomes.
She expressed gratitude to voters who supported Georgia's European future, stating, "There were lots of you, you won in these elections and no one has a right to take this European future away from us."
Zourabichvili highlighted significant electoral violations, asserting that "it was impossible to detect them all" and described the events as "a total falsification, a total stealing of votes." She characterized the situation as a "Russian special operation," calling it a new type of hybrid warfare against the Georgian people.
Emphasizing the need for collective action, Zourabichvili urged citizens to gather on Rustaveli Avenue on October 28 to demonstrate their rejection of the election results. "We defend our constitutional right and every vote and our future. It is our right to have just, free and fair elections," she declared.
She also called for international support, stating, "Nothing can make these elections legitimate."
My Vote Claims Systematic Election Rigging in Georgia
My Vote, a coalition of Georgian civil society organizations, has alleged a significant scheme to rig the October 2024 parliamentary elections. According to spokesperson Londa Toloraia, the organization plans to demand the annulment of the official results released by the Central Election Commission, which showed a strong lead for the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Toloraia emphasized that election day was marred by serious violations, indicating that the irregularities observed were part of a broader strategy to manipulate the results. Key issues included the improper issuance of multiple ballots to voters, instances of ballots pre-marked for the ruling party, and the compromising of voter verification processes.
The group highlighted a pattern of intimidation and obstruction faced by their observers, including physical attacks and aggressive behavior from unauthorized individuals. They reported numerous violations, such as inadequate space and staffing at overseas voting precincts, and claimed that these actions collectively contributed to securing votes for the ruling party.
According to My Vote, by the end of the day, they documented 347 marking violations, 89 instances of breaches of voting secrecy, and 341 unauthorized individuals in polling stations, along with many other serious infractions that raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
President Zourabichvili Rejects October 26 Election Results, Calls for Public Protest
She expressed gratitude to voters who supported Georgia's European future, stating, "There were lots of you, you won in these elections and no one has a right to take this European future away from us."
Zourabichvili highlighted significant electoral violations, asserting that "it was impossible to detect them all" and described the events as "a total falsification, a total stealing of votes." She characterized the situation as a "Russian special operation," calling it a new type of hybrid warfare against the Georgian people.
Emphasizing the need for collective action, Zourabichvili urged citizens to gather on Rustaveli Avenue on October 28 to demonstrate their rejection of the election results. "We defend our constitutional right and every vote and our future. It is our right to have just, free and fair elections," she declared.
She also called for international support, stating, "Nothing can make these elections legitimate."
My Vote Claims Systematic Election Rigging in Georgia
Toloraia emphasized that election day was marred by serious violations, indicating that the irregularities observed were part of a broader strategy to manipulate the results. Key issues included the improper issuance of multiple ballots to voters, instances of ballots pre-marked for the ruling party, and the compromising of voter verification processes.
The group highlighted a pattern of intimidation and obstruction faced by their observers, including physical attacks and aggressive behavior from unauthorized individuals. They reported numerous violations, such as inadequate space and staffing at overseas voting precincts, and claimed that these actions collectively contributed to securing votes for the ruling party.
According to My Vote, by the end of the day, they documented 347 marking violations, 89 instances of breaches of voting secrecy, and 341 unauthorized individuals in polling stations, along with many other serious infractions that raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.