The recent parliamentary election in Georgia has been met with vehement criticism from both the opposing party and international observers, citing rampant misconduct. Consequently, the nation appears to be teetering on the brink of severe instability and upheaval. Soon after it was officially announced that the ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD), had secured a solid majority (54% – 91 of the 150 parliamentary seats), protests began. Agitated citizens feared this would halt the EU integration process and make Georgia more susceptible to influence from Russia, its former ruler.
Georgian Dream, steered by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili and enjoying a 12-year tenure, framed the election as a choice between conflict and tranquillity, endorsing the EU over Ukraine, but also proposing a compromise policy designed to avoid inciting Russia. Ivanishvili reassured voters that Georgia’s path to EU integration, which is backed by 80% of Georgians, remains unchanged. However, he has alleged that the opposition is collaborating with the West to establish another arena for Russia’s ongoing struggles.
Upon assuming power, GD has entrenched loyalists within key state establishments, such as the judiciary, electoral commission, and central bank. As authoritarian tendencies grew, including moves to suppress overseas-funded NGOs, the EU paused Georgia’s membership process in June.
Numerous instances of electoral misconduct have been reported by observers and the media, including pre-marked ballots, voting secrecy violations, ballot stuffing, forced removal of observers from polling centres, and coercing state employees to vote in their favour. Opposition member Tina Bokuchava from the United National Movement (UNM) contends that the election result was robbed from the Georgian population.
Contrary to Moldova’s recent decision to support EU membership, Georgia’s election signifies a political triumph for Russian leader, Vladimir Putin. Although GD denies allegiance to Moscow and stages opposition to its occupation of a fifth of Georgian territory, its tacit recognition of Georgia’s location within Russia’s sphere of influence aligns neatly with Putin’s aspirations for a resurgent Greater Russia.