In Georgia’s parliamentary elections held on October 26, 2024, the “Georgian Dream” party emerged victorious, securing 54% of the votes. However, these results have drawn criticism from the opposition, which reports numerous violations, including vote-buying, voter intimidation, and data manipulation. Observers, such as “My Vote,” recorded more than 300 cases of voting-related violations and over 90 cases of breach of voting secrecy. Instances of physical violence and obstruction of journalists were also reported.
Opposition parties, which collectively garnered around 38% of the votes, stated they do not recognize the results and plan to continue protests demanding a review of the election outcome. The introduction of electronic voting was touted as a way to enhance transparency, but doubts remain about its reliability, especially given the pressure on observers and voters.
The election results may hinder Georgia’s European integration efforts, as the victory of “Georgian Dream” is seen as a step closer to Russia, despite official statements supporting European integration aspirations.
