This month, 1,000 people chose to support the Kyiv Independent. Can we count on you, too?
Become a member
Skip to content
A man holds a placard against Russia during a protest against a controversial "foreign influence" bill, which Brussels warns would undermine Georgia's European aspirations, in Tbilisi, Georgia on April 28, 2024. (Vano Shlamov / AFP via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

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.

The plaintiffs, including the “The Unity—National Movement” and “Strong Georgia” coalitions as well as the Association of Young Lawyers of Georgia, alleged that violations of voting secrecy occurred during the parliamentary elections.

The ruling comes amid the pro-EU opposition’s refusal to recognize the victory claimed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has close ties to Russia. The disputed results have triggered large-scale protests in Tbilisi.

Opposition parties argue that the insufficient opacity of ballots allowed outsiders to see voters’ choices, violating secrecy. They also reported instances of voter bribery, intimidation, and interference with election observers.

Judge Iveri Abashidze dismissed the lawsuits as “groundless.” Although filed separately, the cases were consolidated into a single trial with the Central Election Commission (CEC) as the defendant.

Tamar Kordzaya, a representative of the “The Unity—National Movement,” accused the judge of disregarding the evidence, claiming the issue had been “pre-decided,” according to News Georgia.

The opposition has one final chance to challenge the results after the CEC publishes its final protocol, expected by Nov. 21.

Previously, the court had invalidated the results at 30 polling stations, citing voting secrecy violations.

Official results show Georgian Dream securing nearly 54% of the vote, but opposition leaders and international observers have highlighted widespread allegations of intimidation, ballot-stuffing, and vote-buying.

On Oct. 27, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that parliament would approve the government despite opposition protests. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have urged international actors not to recognize the results.

Georgian Dream has faced accusations of democratic backsliding and steering the South Caucasus country closer to the Kremlin. Earlier this year, the controversial “foreign agents” law sparked mass protests and violent crackdowns by police.

Following the election, the European Commission announced the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession process, highlighting the growing rift between Tbilisi and the West.

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 p…
Let’s see how far we can go?
We’ve been amazed by your support. We’ve reached our initial goal of finding 1,000 new paying members. We still have till the end of our birthday campaign — with more support, we can do even more good journalism. Over 13,000 people are standing behind us. Can we count on you, too?
Show us support this birthday month
Become a member
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

11:50 PM

US announces $988 million military aid package for Ukraine.

The latest aid package will be pulled through the remaining $2 billion in funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) — a Pentagon-led program for supplying arms to Ukraine through contracts with U.S. defense companies.
5:32 PM  (Updated: )

Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih kills 3, injures 17, including 6-year-old boy.

Russian forces attacked Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Dec. 6, killing two people and injuring 17, including a six-year-old boy, according to Governor Serhii Lysak. The death toll rose to three on Dec. 7 when rescuers recovered another body from the rubble.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.