Georgia is voting in elections that could move it toward the EU or into Russia’s sphere of influence

TBILISI – Georgians will go to the polls on Saturday for what many citizens see as a “make-or-break” vote on whether to join the European Union.

The election campaign in the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million was dominated by foreign policy and marked by bitter competition for votes and accusations of a smear campaign.

Some Georgians complained of harassment and being pressured to vote for the ruling party, Georgian Dream, while the opposition accused the party of waging a “hybrid war” against its citizens.

In the run-up to the elections Bidzina Ivanishvili – a shadowy billionaire who founded Georgian Dream and made his fortune in Russia – and again promised to ban opposition parties if his party won.

Georgian Dream will hold opposition parties “fully accountable under the full force of the law” for “war crimes” committed against the Georgian people, Ivanishvili said on Wednesday at a pro-government rally in the capital Tbilisi. He did not explain what crimes he believes the opposition has committed.

Many Georgians believe that the parliamentary elections may be the most crucial election of their lives.

It will determine whether Georgia gets back on track to EU membership, or whether it embraces authoritarianism and falls into Russia’s sphere of influence.

“These are existential elections,” said Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili.

According to polls, about 80% of Georgians support joining the EU and the country’s constitution obliges its leaders to pursue membership of that bloc and NATO.

But Brussels has indefinitely suspended Georgia’s EU accession bid after the ruling Georgian Dream party passed a “Russian law.” restrict freedom of expression in June. Many Georgians fear the party is dragging the country toward authoritarianism and dashing hopes of joining the EU.

The opposition parties have ignored Zourabichvili’s request to unite into one party, but signed her “charter” to implement the reforms the EU needs to join.

Zourabichvili told the Associated Press that she believed most Georgians would mobilize to vote “despite some cases of intimidation, despite the use of state resources… and the use of financial resources” by the government.

Georgian Dream posted billboards across the country that contrasted black and white images of destruction in Ukraine with colorful images of life in Georgia, alongside the slogan: “Say no to war – choose peace.”

Both Georgian Dream and opposition parties told voters they will pursue membership of the European Union, even though laws passed by the ruling party have put those hopes on hold.

“The EU has decided to unilaterally stop Georgia’s integration process,” said Vakhtang Asanidze, who spoke to AP at a pro-government rally in Tbilisi. He said he saw no reason why Georgia should not be able to join the EU despite the laws.

At last week’s EU summit, EU leaders said they have “serious concerns about the actions of the Georgian government”.

Although Georgian Dream has passed laws similar to those the Kremlin uses to crack down on its critics, voters at the pro-government rally said they did not see the election as a choice between Russia or Europe.

“We remember everything about Russia, including Abkazia and South Ossetia,” Latavra Dashniani said at the meeting, referring to Russia’s occupation of 20% of Georgian territory after the two countries fought a brief war in 2008.

She said voting for the ruling party would ensure Georgia enters Europe “with dignity,” citing its conservative values, including opposition to the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

During the parliamentary elections, polling stations open at 8 a.m. local time and close twelve hours later. Georgians will elect 150 lawmakers from across the country on Saturday, representing 18 parties. If no party wins the 76 seats needed to form a government for a four-year term, the largest party will be invited by the president to form a coalition.

Georgian Dream opposes three coalitions: the Unity National Movement, the Coalition for Changes Lelo and Strong Georgia.

The Gakharia for Georgia party, founded by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, said it will not enter into an alliance with anyone but will support the opposition in forming a government.

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Sophiko Megrelidze contributed to this report