'Whoever enters parliament enters Russia,' Georgian president says
"I am sure that the parties will not enter the parliament ... Today, whoever enters the parliament will enter Russia," Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said on Nov. 22.
Georgia
Updated: Georgian police disperse protesters in Tbilisi, 16 detained
Georgian police dispersed a protest in Tbilisi demanding new elections on the eve of Nov. 18, but organizers promised a quick resumption elsewhere.
President of Russian-occupied Abkhazia resigns amid protests
Aslan Bzhania's resignation will take effect once protesters withdraw and disperse from government property, according to an announcement from the Russian proxy leader's press service.
Protesters storm parliament in Georgia's Russian-occupied Abkhazia over controversial investment deal with Russia
Protests against a controversial investment agreement with Russia escalated into clashes in Sukhum, the capital of Russian-occupied Abkhazia. The proposed law seeks to permit Russians to purchase property in Abkhazia.
Tbilisi court rejects 11 lawsuits challenging Georgian election results
A Tbilisi court has dismissed all 11 lawsuits filed by Georgian opposition parties and civil society organizations seeking to invalidate protocols issued by district election commissions, News Georgia reported on Nov. 14.
Moscow court issues arrest warrants for ICC judges involved in Russia-linked cases
The case against Reine Alapini-Gansou was launched under the article of "illegal detention," Mediazona reported without providing additional details. She has also been placed on the wanted list, the court told the Interfax news agency.
If Georgian Dream stays its course, we can't consider them a democratic partner, expert says
Georgia stands at a crossroads. The parliamentary elections on Oct. 26 were presented as a choice between a creeping authoritarianism and a drift into the Kremlin's orbit on one hand, and Georgia's EU aspirations on the other. A group of pro-European parties hoped to unseat the Georgian Dream, a party
Georgian PM hopes for 'restart' of ties with US after Trump's reelection
"I am confident that President Trump’s leadership will promote peace globally and in our region as well as ensure restart in U.S.-Georgia relations," Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on X.
Georgian court annuls election results at 30 precincts over secrecy violations
While this represents only a small number of polling stations across the country, the authors of the complaint – Georgian Young Lawyers' Association – said the ruling sets a precedent for better protection of voting secrecy rights.
Thousands in Tbilisi rally again in protest of recent parliamentary elections
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered outside Georgia's parliament on Nov. 4 for the second consecutive Monday, protesting the Oct. 26 election, which they allege was rigged with Russian assistance to favor the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Georgia election results indicate possible manipulation, two US pollsters say
Two U.S. pollsters, commissioned by Georgian opposition forces, are questioning the official results of the Oct. 26 parliamentary election, which declared the ruling Georgian Dream party victorious.
Opinion: Rigged elections have stolen Georgia's European future
In Georgia’s 2012 election, then-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s pro-Western party was defeated by Georgian Dream, a party led by the Russian-backed oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Though widely hailed at the time as a democratic triumph, astute observers warned against celebrating. One such observer was Georgia’s former economy minister, the
Georgia's president declines to appear before prosecutors in election fraud investigation
During a press conference in Tbilisi, President Salome Zourabichvili presented footage purportedly showing ballot violations. "It is not the President's responsibility to provide evidence that already exists within society."
Georgia's accession to EU has been suspended due to actions of Georgian government
The European Commission singled out the recent legislative amendments to the election process, frequent compromises on vote secrecy, procedural inconsistencies, intimidation, and pressure on voters that negatively impacted public trust in the process.
Georgian prosecutors open investigation into election fraud allegations
The office summoned President Salome Zourabichvili for Oct. 31 as part of the investigation. The president refused to acknowledge the result, calling it a "Russian special operation" and urged voters to protest.
Georgia sinks deeper into Russian-style authoritarianism amid stolen election allegations
Georgia's Oct. 26 parliamentary election presented a clear geopolitical choice for the country’s voters, but criticism is mounting that the ruling regime stole the vote. After years of vacillating between the West and Russia and paying lip service to European integration, the country's ruling Georgian Dream party began to
Orban lauds Georgia's ruling party for not allowing country to become 'second Ukraine'
"I would like to congratulate you on the fact that... you have not allowed your country to be turned into a second Ukraine," Viktor Orban said at a press briefing with his Georgian counterpart, Irakli Kobakhidze.
Georgians take to streets in protest as pro-Russian party crowned election winner amid wide-scale fraud
Georgia has descended into political turmoil that is set to shape the country for years to come. Although exit polls indicated that the pro-European opposition coalition would win the Oct. 26 parliament elections, the official results paint a different picture. The Central Election Commission announced on the evening of Oct.
US, EU call for investigation of Georgian elections after reports of intimidation, irregularities
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraged "Georgia’s political leaders to respect the rule of law, repeal legislation that undermines fundamental freedoms, and address deficiencies in the electoral process together."
Georgian president does not recognize election results, calls for protests
"These elections cannot be recognized. This is the same as recognizing Georgia's subordination to Russia. ... No one can take away Georgia's European future."
Georgian elections accompanied by vote buying, intimidation, European monitors say
"During our observation, we noted the cases of vote buying and double voting before and during elections, especially in rural areas," said Ioan Bulai, the head of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Georgia's parliament will approve government despite opposition's protests, PM says after elections
Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, the chair of the opposition Gakharia For Georgia party, said that the announced results "do not reflect the will of the Georgian people" and called for "reasonable forms of protest" to "defend the European future and the institution of elections."
Georgia's ruling party claims election victory as pro-EU opposition disputes results
Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party captured 54.3% of the vote in the Oct. 26 parliamentary election, with over 99% of precincts counted, according to the country's central electoral commission.
Both sides declare victory in Georgia's pivotal vote on European future
The ruling Georgian Dream party, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, and opposition groups aiming to end the party’s 12-year rule declared victory on Oct. 26.
Polling station closed in southern Georgia during election following reported ballot stuffing
Footage surfaced earlier on Oct. 26 of an individual stuffing the ballot box at the polling station in the southern Georgian city of Marnueli.
Georgians head out to vote in parliamentary elections, tensions run high at some polling stations
Nino Lomjaria, a lawyer and former ombudswoman, reported on Oct. 26 that an election observer was attacked while filming a ballot box being stuffed.
Georgia denies journalist entry to cover elections amid rising Russian influence
Czech journalist Ray Baseley was denied entry to Georgia without an explanation after arriving at Tbilisi airport on Oct. 22 to cover the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine says it struck airfield and 'largest explosives factory' in Russia
Key developments on Oct. 19-20: * Ukraine says it struck airfield and 'largest explosives factory' in Russia * Russian overnight missile strike on Kryvyi Rih injures 17 * Tens of thousands of Georgians rally in support of EU accession ahead of upcoming parliamentary election * Ukraine’s NATO membership on 'irreversible path,' G7
Tens of thousands of Georgians rally in support of EU accession ahead of upcoming parliamentary election
A large rally in support of Georgia's accession to the European Union was held in Tbilisi's Freedom Square on Oct. 20, ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for Oct. 26.
Russia expands visa-free entry for Georgian citizens
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a presidential decree on Oct. 10 expanding visa-free entry for Georgian citizens who are working or studying in Russia, as Moscow continues to cozy relations with Tbilisi amid concerns over the country's democratic backsliding.
Opinion: With elections ahead, Georgia stands between Russia and the West
Two years ago, a Georgian pro-Kremlin fringe channel aired a fabricated story featuring photoshopped images of several NGO representatives, including myself, in handcuffs at a fictional trial. This scenario, supposedly the result of a meeting between then-Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Russian President Vladimir Putin, was laughable at the
'That's not what Georgian people want' – President Zourabichvili blasts ruling party's pro-Russia stance
Georgia and Ukraine have long been close. Witnessing revolutions that brought democratic pro-Western governments, both countries later witnessed a Russian military attack, in the Kremlin's attempt to pull both states back into Moscow's orbit. It now looks like in Georgia, 16 years after a brief war that left 20% of
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