Georgia’s Central Electoral Commission meeting to validate the results of the contentious parliamentary elections held on October 26 was disrupted Saturday when black paint was hurled at Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the CEC chairman.
David Kirtadze, an opposition commission member from the United National Movement, is shown in videos circulating on social media approaching Kalandarishvili amid a heated exchange, before and after dousing him with the black paint.
According to The Associated Press, Kirtadze said that the election results, which declared the ruling Georgian Dream party as the winner with 53.93 per cent of the vote, did not reflect the “true choice” of voters.
Marika Mikiashvili, a lecturer based in Tbilisi, Georgia, who focuses on governance and identity in ex-communist states, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the black ink symbolizes “no vote secrecy” with election protesters.
Kalandarishvili denied the allegations, saying that the accusations lacked evidence and were merely attempts of “pressure, bullying, and personal insults.”
Black paint is splashed into the face of Giorgi Kalandarishcili, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Georgia as he was preparing to announce the final results of the October 26 parliamentary elections which both opposition and civil society consider fraudulent and not… pic.twitter.com/Z0ArxuWUPY
— Formula NEWS | English (@FormulaGe) November 16, 2024
Despite the interruption, the session resumed with Kalandarishvili wearing a bandaged eye. He reiterated his stance, saying that no tangible proof existed of electoral manipulation. Outside the commission in Tbilisi, protesters gathered, many rejecting the results based on suspicions of rigging, a claim the Georgian Dream party denies.
European election observers say the parliamentary elections took place in a “divisive” environment marred by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. The election was seen by many Georgians as essential for the country’s ambitions to join the European Union.
However, the EU suspended Georgia’s membership application in June, following the parliament’s approval of a controversial “foreign influence law,” which critics argue mirrors Russia’s suppression of civil society.
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Critics accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire with ties to Russia, of authoritarian tendencies and alignment with Moscow. They highlight the adoption of laws similar to those implemented by the Kremlin that restrict freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights.
President Salome Zourabichvili, who holds a mostly ceremonial role, has previously denounced the election results, attributing Georgia’s plight to Moscow’s influence, and called on United States and EU support for the ongoing protests. Newsweek has emailed the U.S. Department of State on Saturday morning for comment.
Zourabichvili said that “Russian-style elections” were conducted, emphasizing the use of technology to facilitate vote manipulation, a claim echoed by international observers.
The October election saw its highest voter turnout since Georgian Dream first came to power in 2012.
The United National Movement opposition party reported an attack on its headquarters and media outlets detailed assaults on individuals outside polling stations.
Observers highlighted that electoral violations were especially pronounced in rural areas. In the predominantly Armenian Javakheti region, where Georgian Dream claimed nearly 90 percent of the vote, residents voiced skepticism about Georgia’s European aspirations, with some questioning why alignment with Europe was necessary at all.
Antonio López-Istúriz White, head of the European Parliament’s monitoring delegation, criticized Georgian Dream for employing “anti-Western rhetoric” while claiming to pursue European integration. He described the election process as indicative of the ruling party’s “democratic backsliding.”
Internationally, officials in Washington and Brussels have called for a thorough investigation into the election, while the Kremlin has dismissed allegations of interference.
Putin’s closest EU ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, congratulated Georgian Dream on securing a fourth term.
“This is a welcome result for Moscow,” Olga Oliker, director, Europe and Central Asia program of the International Crisis Group, told Newsweek in emailed comments last month.
“Russia sees the country as a prize in a contest with the EU, which had offered Tbilisi candidacy. This last now seems unlikely to move forward anytime soon,” Oliker said.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
