Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round, because the political theatre in Georgia is more dramatic than a toddler’s tantrum in a toy store! It seems like last night’s election results were met with more eye-rolling than a bad episode of a soap opera.
The Central Election Commission announced, with the kind of confidence that could only come with a 54.2% victory, that the ruling “Georgian Dream” party is still sitting pretty in parliament, while the opposition parties are kicking and screaming like a cat caught in a bathtub. And true to form, the opposition has declared these results as “stolen” — because, of course, why go for ‘lost’ when you can go for ‘heist!’
The Aftermath: Oligarchs and Outrage
Oh, the drama! Tinatin Bokuchava of the “Unity – National Movement” party didn’t hold back, accusing Bidzina Ivanishvili — yes, the oligarch whose name sounds like he could either run a country or a very successful bakery — of “stealing” not just the election, but the European future of Georgia too. “There’s a constitutional coup on our hands!” she said, which, quite frankly, sounds less like a power grab and more like a really intense board game night gone wrong.
Meanwhile, Nika Gwaramia from the “Coalition for Change” was waving the flag of protest and claiming that they were robbed — let’s hope he didn’t bring actual pitchforks and torches, not since the last time that led to some awkward misunderstandings!
The “Existential” Elections
Now, let’s talk about the term “existential” — do they mean is it a crisis, or are we really contemplating the meaning of life here? Because according to the ruling party, these elections are less about who can best lead Georgia and more about keeping the peace in a game of geopolitical chess, and I think I’ve seen less drama in a high school play!
The opposition wants nothing more than to pull Georgia close to the West, while the ruling party insists they have the magic wand to protect against the big bad wolf, aka “the war.” Let’s hope no one considered handing out magic wands at the polling stations — I’m not sure they passed that under election law!
Polling Station Shenanigans
Over in Tbilisi, things were as tense as a poorly made catapult. There were scuffles reported, suggesting some voters kicked off their Sunday shoes just in time for a round of ballot-box brawls. But fear not, Georgia has an impressive electronic voting system — oh wait, never mind, it appears some folks are still breaking out the old manual methods for those “creative” votes!
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is on high alert, which basically means they’re keeping a close eye on the listings — and no, I’m not talking about Netflix! There’s chatter suggesting that some voters might have been encouraged to, let’s say, ‘contribute’ their identity cards for a quick cash splash. It’s not exactly a fair game of Monopoly if you ask me!
Voter Perspectives
As we stroll down memory lane, we meet Vasiliy from Tserovani, who recalls a time after the 2008 war when the trauma lingers like an unwanted guest. “For me, it’s a war!” he proclaims, and you can almost hear the sound of hearts shattering worldwide. Conversely, in Hidistavi, we have Durmishan, who paints a nostalgic picture of harmony. “We need peace and order!” he insists, probably forgetting about the ruckus happening just down the street.
It seems like everyone wants peace, stability, and a good sprinkle of reality TV to distract from the chaos! But let’s remember, dear friends, whether it’s elections or reality TV, it’s not the theatrics that count, but the votes, right? Or was it ratings? I can never keep them straight!
So, what’s next for Georgia? Stay tuned to your local news, because it looks like this show is just getting started, and I wouldn’t want you to miss a single plot twist!
And remember: Keep those ballot boxes safe and don’t let any oligarchs near your snack table!
Photo copyright: Reuters
photo caption The leader of “Georgian Dream” Bidzina Ivanishvili quickly declared victoryArticle information
- Author, Olga Ivshina, Nina Akhmeteli
- Role, BBC, Georgia
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October 27, 2024
The Central Election Commission of Georgia announced the victory of the ruling party “Georgian Dream” in the parliamentary elections in the country. The opposition refuses to recognize the results of these elections and announces protest actions.
The opposition accuses “Mriya” of “usurpation of power”
After processing 99.3% of the ballots, the ruling “Georgian Dream” won 54.2% of the votes, the Central Election Commission reports. The opposition “Coalition for Changes” gains 10.8%, “Unity – National Movement” – 10.1%, “Strong Georgia” – 8.8% and “Gakharia – for Georgia” – 7.8%.
Two Georgian opposition parties have already declared that they do not recognize the results of these elections.
Tinatin Bokuchava, head of the “Unity – National Movement” party, called the elections “stolen” and the results “stolen”.
“We see that the Central Election Commission carried out Ivanishvili’s dirty work and announced the results, which show that the oligarch Ivanishvili stole the victory from the Georgian people and thereby stole the European future,” she said.
Her colleague, the leader of the “Coalition for Change” Nika Gwaramia, also said that his party does not recognize the election results: “The elections were stolen. There was a usurpation of power. This is a constitutional coup.”
The opposition said it plans to organize protests.
Immediately after the end of voting, several Georgian mass media published the results of exit polls conducted on their behalf.
The Imedi TV channel, which is close to the Georgian government, gave optimistic results for the ruling party: “Georgian Dream” received 56.1% according to these polls.
But two opposition channels – Mtavari and Formula – got different results: their polls gave “Mriya” 40-42%. On the basis of these two exit polls, the opposition was sure that together they had won the election.
photo caption The head of the opposition party “Unity – National Movement” Tina Bokuchava made a speech after the announcement of the exit polls
The leaders of the opposition parties even managed to make several victorious statements. “Despite the violence, Europe won and the Georgian people won. Today more than one party won, the European future won […]. Ivanishvili’s time is over,” said Tina Bokuchava, head of the “Unity – National Movement” party.
The leader of “Strong Georgia” Mamuka Khazaradze supported: “I congratulate you on the defeat of the Russian government in Georgia! The will of the people has been expressed. Now it is necessary to protect it, it is necessary to bring the matter to an end. I want to call on all our representatives at the polling stations to defend the votes of our voters until the last minute “.
“Mria” leader Bidzina Ivanishvili was also confident of victory from the very beginning: “This is a rare case in the world when one and the same party achieves such success in such a difficult situation.”
“Existential” elections
On the day of the vote, the sky over Tbilisi – previously sunny – was overcast. People wake up late in the capital, so in the early hours there are more observers and journalists than voters at the polling stations.
Today’s elections in the country are called existential, because voters determine the future political course of the country.
On the one hand, “Georgian Dream”, which has been in power for 12 years and is accused of leading the country to international isolation and serving the interests of Russia. On the other hand – the opposition, which consists mostly of small parties and seeks rapprochement with the West.
The ruling party also promises Georgia future accession to the EU and calls the election a referendum, but not between the European future and isolation, but between peace and war.
“Georgian Dream” blames the opposition and “influential forces” abroad for being drawn into the war. This position appeals to many older residents of Georgia – those who lived, studied and worked here during the Soviet Union.
Photo copyright: VLADIMIR KOMISSAROV / BBC
Photo caption Voting in Tbilisi
Georgians, more active than in the previous elections, went to the polling stations today to vote, but the final turnout was lower than in 2012, when the result was a change of power in the country and “Georgian Dream”, which was then in opposition, got a majority in the parliament.
By 5 p.m., 50.6% of voters – more than 1.7 million people – had come to the polling station.
By 8:00 p.m., when the sites were closed, the turnout was 58.94%.
Tserovani, where South Ossetian refugees live
In the village of Tserovani, 35 km from Tbilisi, they used to get up early. So at 10 a.m. there is already a queue to the polling stations. In the school lobby, observers shake hands with many voters. And the members of the commission first with a serious look help those who came to send the ballot for processing, and then hug them tightly – everyone knows each other here.
Refugees who left South Ossetia during the 2008 war live in Tserovan. The five-day war between Russia and Georgia is well remembered here – it divided everyone’s life into before and after.
“I was born and grew up near Tskhinvali. But now there is nothing left of my village,” says 46-year-old Vasyliy Gogidze. Tall, with a strong build – he is immediately noticeable against the background of a couple of dozen people who are standing in line to vote at the N27 polling station.
“My house was razed to the ground. Our village was wiped off the face of the earth. Now Russian troops are stationed there. For me, the war is not over. I live in this war. I cannot return home, drink water from our well. I cannot go to the grave father. For me, it’s a war! And what else to call it?”
image copyrightOLGA IVSHINA / BBC
Photo caption Vasiliy was born and grew up near Tskhinvali
Hearing Vasiliy’s words, the people standing nearby in the queue nod their heads. Houses for refugees from Ossetia in Tserovan began to be built shortly after the 2008 war. It was built in a hurry in order to have time to settle people before the onset of winter cold. All shortcomings were promised to be eliminated a little later. But as a result, a number of everyday problems have not been solved here and until now. For example, there is still no constant water supply to houses.
Rusadan Kavtaradze came to vote early so that she could return home before the water was turned on:
“I am voting for my children’s European future. Some politicians say that if we choose Europe, there will be a war. They make people live in fear. As if they can keep us at peace. I don’t think so. In fact, our defense in everything can be only Europe. I want such a future for our children.”
Hidistavi, who are dissatisfied with the opposition
“There used to be order and peace. We lived in harmony with Russians, Ossetians, and Ukrainians. With everyone. And now there is chaos and war all around,” sighs 80-year-old Durmishan from the village of Hidistavi. He arrived at the site wearing a pressed white shirt and a black leather jacket.
Durmishan proudly tells how he worked at a canning factory for 55 years, working his way up from a worker to a boss. It seems to him that only the party in power can ensure the well-being and stability of Georgia.
In Gori, where Durmishan worked all his life, the house-museum of the famous native of these places, Joseph Stalin, still operates. Six exhibition halls tell in detail about all the main stages of the Generalissimo’s life and successes. But they keep quiet about the millions of people who were deported, repressed and shot on Stalin’s orders. In 2010 – after numerous complaints from tourists and activists – the so-called “repression room” appeared in the museum. But finding this smallest room is not so easy.
image copyrightOLGA IVSHINA / BBC
Photo caption, Stalin Museum
“All this opposition is just talking and talking. And we need things to do. We need peace and order, as it was before,” the pensioner adds.
At the entrance to the polling station of Hidistavi village, where we met Durmishan, the situation is not as relaxed as in Tserovan. A little away from the entrance are men of strong build in black leather jackets and sweatpants. They smoke and talk. Next to them are several half-liter bottles of water, although the weather is cool. It looks like this company has been here since morning – some of the bottles are half empty.
Seeing the journalists, the group starts to move. Three people come to meet us, actively interested in documents and accreditations. Others at this time go in different directions.
Almost everyone who voted in this area refuses to speak not only on camera, but also on the record, even just on a recorder. Politely smiling, people make general remarks about the importance of the election and hurry to leave.
Tbilisi, where the fight took place
After noon, the situation began to flare up. In one of the precincts of the Marneul municipality, located about 30 minutes from Tbilisi, where mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis live, voting was interrupted.
The video footage shows a man pushing a stack of ballots into the ballot box – the Central Election Commission announced the closing of the polling station and annulment of the results. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into the article on election falsification.
In another area of Marneuli, an unknown person attacked an employee and observer of the “Georgian Association of Young Lawyers” Georhii Gotsyridze.
The capital was also restless. A group fight took place near one of the sites located on the outskirts of Tbilisi, in which several people participated.
The “TV Pirveli” television company reported an attack on its film crew in another district of the capital – the journalists’ equipment was damaged.
The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, thanked the Georgian population, noting the high voter turnout, and called on the Minister of Internal Affairs to ensure a more prompt and effective response to violent incidents in various precincts.
image copyrightMatthew Goddard/BBC
Caption: 35-year-old oppositionist Azat Karimov was beaten in Marneul
“Sometimes the mass media broke the equipment, sometimes there was direct violence. Groups gather there (at the polling stations), the only goal of which is tension and confrontation,” the president said. She added that she could not contact the minister herself.
A group of independent observers, Transparency International Georgia, believes that it is quite difficult to falsify election results directly at polling stations in Georgia, since most places have installed an electronic vote counting system. As a result, less visible methods of influencing the outcome of elections are used more often.
This was reported to the observers at once by several sources who asked to remain anonymous, fearing problems and possible persecution.
According to Transparency Georgia, some voters were forced to vote a certain way using an administrative resource. Others were promised solutions to social problems, for example, the issuance of permits and certificates necessary for small businesses or easier receipt of social benefits.
Another more sophisticated method of impersonation is “identity rental”. According to Transparency International Georgia observers, on the eve of elections, local government representatives sometimes come to residents and ask them to hand over their identity cards for a day in exchange for a monetary reward. In some cases, other people then vote on these certificates, in others they simply record their absence.
All these methods of manipulation were also used in past years.
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The opposition is to create chaos and disrupt the election process,” said President Zurabishvili in her statement. She emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and order during such a critical time for the nation’s democracy.
As tensions rose during the voting process, reports of intimidation and violence overshadowed the electoral proceedings. Citizens and observers alike expressed concern over the atmosphere at multiple polling stations. While some areas reported smooth operations, others found themselves in the midst of scuffles and accusations of electoral manipulation.
With the opposition’s refusal to accept the results, Georgia finds itself at a crossroads, with potential protests on the horizon. The atmosphere in the capital is charged, as supporters of both the ruling party and the opposition prepare for what could become a contentious aftermath. The country’s political trajectory now hinges not only on the vote count but on the reactions of the populace, the opposition leaders, and whether any further violence erupts in response to the declared victory.
Looking ahead, all eyes will remain on Georgia as developments unfold and citizens navigate the uncertain landscape of their electoral process. The potential for prolonged unrest looms, signaling that the current chapter of Georgia’s political saga may still be far from over.
Article discusses the recent elections in Georgia, where the ruling party “Georgian Dream” received 54.2% of the votes according to the Central Election Commission, while various opposition parties contested the legitimacy of the results, alleging that the elections were “stolen.” This sentiment was echoed by leaders of opposition parties, who expressed their intention to hold protests against the outcomes, claiming there had been a “constitutional coup.”
Despite allegations of election fraud, the ruling party claimed the election results represented a choice between peace and war, positioning themselves as a stabilizing force against foreign influence. The elections were characterized as existential for Georgia’s future political orientation, pitting pro-Western opposition parties against a ruling party accused of fostering ties with Russia.
The voter turnout was reported at 58.94%, which was significant but lower than in previous years. Incidents of violence and election-related disruptions were reported in various locations, raising concerns over the electoral process. Observers noted challenges in ensuring a fair election, highlighting tactics such as voter coercion and the renting of identities to influence results.
the political climate in Georgia remains tense, with ongoing disputes about election integrity and allegations of corruption impacting the public’s view of governance and democratic processes.
