Georgia launches investigation into ‘falsification’ of election results

Georgia has launched an investigation into the alleged ‘forgery’ of its parliament electionsProsecutors said this on Wednesday, after the pro-Western opposition said the vote was “stolen” and Western countries criticized irregularities.

Georgia descended into political instability after pro-Western opposition parties refused to recognize the outcome of Saturday’s vote, which they said was rigged in favor of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

American president Joe Biden added his voice to international criticism of the election on Tuesday, saying he was “deeply alarmed” by democratic “backsliding” in the Caucasus country and that the vote was marred by “voter intimidation and coercion.”

“The Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia has launched an investigation into the alleged falsification of the parliamentary elections,” a statement said.

It said chairman Salome Zurabishvili who is “suspected to have evidence relating to possible forgery … was summoned to the investigating agency for an interview on Thursday”.

Zurabishvili – at odds with the ruling party – has declared the election results “illegitimate”, alleging election interference by a “Russian special operation”, a claim rejected by the Kremlin.

Opposition parties have said they would not join the new “illegitimate” parliament and demanded “new” elections led by an “international electoral administration.”

Tens of thousands gathered Tbilisi in protest on Monday, while the United States and the European Union condemned electoral “irregularities.”

A group of leading election observers in Georgia said they had found evidence of complex, massive fraud.

The near-complete election results showed the ruling Georgian Dream party winning 53.9 percent, compared to 37.7 percent for an opposition coalition.

(AFP)