Georgia’s crucial parliamentary elections to elect the 150-member legislature took place on October 26. The vote followed months of anti-democratic and anti-Western drift by the ruling Georgian Dream party, leading pro-Western Georgians to bill it as a “referendum” on the country’s choice between Russia and Europe. These were the first fully-proportional elections in Georgia, as well as the first electronic elections, with about 90% of voters casting their ballots through electronic machines installed at polling stations. The 5% election threshold prompted parties to run in coalitions, and the four strongest opposition contenders signed the President’s Georgian Charter providing for a pro-EU technocratic rule (Read more about the odds and the context of the elections Here).
The main contenders with the best chance of passing the threshold included: (41) Georgian Dream (current ruling party); (5) Unity – to Save Georgia (United National Movement + Strategy Agmashenebeli); (4) Coalition for Change, (Ahali+Girchi – More Freedom+Droa); (9) Strong Georgia (Lelo for Georgia + For People + Citizens + Freedom Square); and (25) For Georgia (led by ex GD Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia).
Official Results of 2024 Parliamentary Elections: Interactive Map
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LIVE UPDATES (ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL)
Monday, November 4
23:15 – The court of Gori satisfies ISFED claim on recounting of invalid ballots in 15 precincts
The court of Gori satisfied the claim of ISFED for recounting of invalid ballots in 15 precincts – the decision was made by Judge Nino Gergauli.
22:30 – Former Ombudsperson Calls on People to Rally in front of Appeals Court
Former Public Defender of Georgia and founder of the Georgia’s European Orbit platform, Nino Lomjaria, called on people to rally in front of the Court of Appeals with demands to check all ballots in precincts where voting was conducted electronically and annul the results of the precincts where complaints were written by local observers.
22:30 – Judge Vladimer Khuchua Confirms Secrecy of Vote was Violated
Judge Vladimer Khuchua of the Tetritskaro Municipality confirmed that the secrecy of the vote had been violated in the October 26 elections, setting an important precedent for the case. This decision annuls the results of 30 precincts. He is the first judge to rule in favor of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association’s (GYLA) complaint that the secrecy of the ballot had been violated during the elections because the ballots were so thin that it was possible to see on the other side of the paper who the person had voted for.
20:15 – Opposition Presents Plan of Actions
The main opposition forces presented their plan of actions at the rally at Rustaveli avenue. The plan consists of 3 parts: 1) Inform all Georgian citizens about the fraud, deception and machinations used by Georgian Dream to steal elections. 2) Make sure that international partners don’t recognize the rigged elections, and 3) Continue democratic resistance, civic activism, street protests
It is announced that the next resistance march will take place on the 5th of November at 2:00 pm near the Sports Palace.
17:30 – Rally Demanding Annulment of Election Results has Begun
The mass rally of demonstrators against the allegedly rigged elections in Georgia has begun its march from Station Square to Rustaveli Avenue, which will end in front of the Parliament, where opposition politicians will address the gathered people from a stage and present their plan of action to prove the election fraud. The pro-Western rally participants demand the annulment of the results of the October 26 elections and the holding of new elections in their place. The government has already mobilized special forces inside the Parliament. Some opposition representatives have already announced their intention to set up tents in front of the Parliament.
14:00 – For Georgia’s Deputy Chair Summoned to Prosecutor’s Office
Natia Mezvrishvili, Deputy Chair of the party Gakharia for Georgia, reported that she was summoned to the Prosecutor General’s Office as part of the investigation into allegations of fraudulent elections because of her statements that she had evidence of fraud. She stated that she would not go to the investigation “conducted for the purpose of formalizing” the “fraudulent elections”. She also stated that none of the evidence submitted to the Prosecutor’s office by the party has been investigated. Mezvrishvili noted that if the investigation of these “real cases of fraud” begins, then they will go to the Prosecutor’s Office and present all the evidence they have.
11:00 – Speaker of Parliament Speaks on Election “Disinformation”
Speaker Papuashvili dismissed allegations of electoral fraud made by local civil society organizations, the opposition, and the President. These allegations, which he denied, included violations of voting secrecy rules, voter mobilization efforts by Georgian Dream, and suspicions of unusually high voter turnout in certain regions. However, it was not so much the content of the brifing that attracted attention, but the fact that it showed a map of Georgia without the occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
11:00 – My Vote Calls on Prosecutor’s Office to Launch Investigation Against CEC Members
My Vote local observation mission calls on the Prosecutor’s Office to open an investigation against the members of the CEC, including the head of the CEC, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, under Article 342 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which deals with neglect of official duty, and under Article 332 on abuse of power.
Saturday, November 2
16:30 – My Vote Says None of its Complaints Satisfied
My Vote, a local observer mission uniting dozens of Georgian civil society organizations, which on October 30 filed complaints in 29 districts, calling for the annulment of the results of 246 precincts, said none of its appeals for the annulment were satisfied. The number of registered voters in these precincts is 417,305.
Friday, November 1
21:45 – Public Defender Recuses Himself From Commenting on Elections
The Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani shared his position on the allegedly fraudulent elections in Georgia, saying that his mandate does not provide for qualifying the legitimacy of the elections. Asked whether he believed the October 26 elections were held in a free, fair and democratic environment, he said: “The fact is that this question should not be addressed to the Public Defender. Neither I nor any other public defender of Georgia. None of them have ever assessed the legitimacy of elections, because that is not the mandate of the Public Defender. We have made statements about this many times. We are not a monitoring organization, we did not observe [the elections], so neither I, nor my successor, nor any other Public Defender can discuss whether the elections are legitimate”.
15:08 – “For Georgia”: CEC is Deleting and Falsifying Information from its Servers
The Deputy Chair of “Gakharia for Georgia” party, Natia Mezvrishvili held a briefing and announced that, according to the information the party has received, the CEC is deleting the information on the vote-counting machines and falsifying the databases on the CEC’s servers. Therefore, the party decided to appeal to the court with the request to protect this information everywhere and to force the CEC to comply with the party’s demands to publish the information. “Every day of delay creates the risk of destroying vital evidence, which is only in the interest of the [Georgian] Dream,” Mezvrishvili stressed.
14:07 – Two Sentenced to Pre-trial Detention for Ballot Stuffing in Marneuli
The Marneuli City Council (Sakrebulo) Deputy Chair, Rovshan Iskandarov, and another individual, Ekbar Iskandarov, have been sentenced to pre-trial detention on charges of ballot box stuffing in Marneuli’s 69th district. The decision was made by Bolnisi City Court Judge Gvantsa Chikovani. The lawyer of the convicts claims that the case involves violations of the rules of procedure, not electoral fraud, because according to the defendants they didn’t stuff the ballot box with fraudulent ballots. The case will be heard by the court on December 25. The defendants face two years in prison for violeting article 164³ of the Criminal Code.
12:50 – ICC Georgia Expresses Profound Concern Over Elections
The International Chamber of Commerce in Georgia has issued a statement expressing profound concern about the conduct of the parliamentary elections. “Reports of massive, systemic irregularities during the electoral process, including before election date, have raised significant alarm among the business community,” ICC Georgia says.
The business organization says that it “vehemently condemns” Georgia’s deviation from the Euro-Atlantic path toward alignment with Russia; that it “fully endorses” President Salome Zurabishvili’s position. It also calls for early elections to be held under neutral international supervision. ICC Georgia also calls on other business organizations in Georgia to condemn the anti-democratic actions and “any deviation from our European path as enshrined in the Georgian Constitution.”
Thursday, October 31
20:00 – Opposition Alliances Announce Rally and Promise Detailed Action Plan
Three opposition forces – Coalition for Change, Unity and Strong Georgia- announced at a briefing a rally on November 4 on the Rustaveli avenue where they said they will present a detailed plan of actions.
12:19 – SIS Launches Investigation into Alleged Interference with Journalists’ Work
The Georgian Special Investigation Service announced an investigation under the first part of the Article 154 of the Criminal Code into possible unlawful interference in the professional activities of journalists during October 26 elections. SIS noted that the investigation was prompted by reports from the Media Ombudsman, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and a service hotline, and the Service has examined 17 incidents involving journalists in different regions. Of these, 13 cases showed no signs of criminal activity based on preliminary reports, but investigators contacted all the journalists and cameramen involved to ensure prompt legal responses. To date, five journalists and one cameraman have participated in the investigation, and the Service continues to take the necessary investigative and procedural steps.
11:30 – Prosecutor’s Office Says 47 Cases of Election-Related Crimes Under Investigation
The Prosecutor’s Office said that 47 criminal cases are being investigated for alleged crimes committed before and on election day, including the facts of alleged vote rigging, influencing voters’ will, violation of the secrecy of voting, vote buying, obstruction of journalistic work, violation and threats during pre-election agitation, damage and destruction of property. It also said that the individuals in connection with the alleged crimes are being “intensively” summoned for questioning.
The Prosecutor’s Office also said that two individuals are arrested on the electoral rigging facts that were committed in Marneuli’s 69th precinct.
“It is noteworthy that in certain cases, the individuals who publicly declare that they have information and evidence on alleged crimes committed during the election process are not cooperating with the investigation so far and are refusing to provide relevant information, which hinders the investigation process,” the Prosecutor’s Office added.
Wednesday, October 30
22:00 – CoE Safety of Journalists Platform: Investigate Election-Day Abuses Against Media
Citing more than a dozen cases of various abuses against Georgian journalists on election day, the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform calls for the investigation of documented cases and the prosecution of those responsible. More.
20:00 – EU Ambassador Calls for Full Transparency on Electoral Process
“Georgia’s next government should reverse course, recommit to democratic principles and values if it wants to bring the country closer to the EU. This has to start with full transparency about the electoral process,” EU Ambassador Pawel Herczyński said as he commented on the European Commission’s Second Enlargement Report. The Commission press release also underlined the findings of OSCE/ODIHR on the parliamentary elections in Georgia, noting that the observer “identified several shortcomings that occurred in a tense and highly polarised environment,” and emphasizing that “these preliminary findings confirm the need for a comprehensive electoral reform that was already highlighted in past key recommendations.” Read More.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell also spoke extensively about elections, calling for an investigation into the irregularities and noting that the Georgian authorities have “moved away from the EU” with recent actions and legislative decisions. More.
20:00 – President Slams Prosecutor’s Office, Demands Immediate Investigation of Election Fraud
After being summoned by the Prosecutor’s Office for questioning as part of the investigation into alleged election fraud, President Salome Zurabishvili held a press briefing suggesting that she would not comply with the Prosecutor’s summons. More.
19:00 – PM Kobakhidze on Investigation into Elections: Everyone Can Check Everything
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on October 30 that the elections were “conducted absolutely cleanly, democratically and fairly” and promised that “absolutely everything will be open. Everyone can look into everything.” More.
18:00 – Concerns Mount Over Mass Breach of Ballot Secrecy in Machine-Voting
Voters, election watchdogs, and opposition parties have raised alarms about a mass breach of secrecy in the 2024 general election, arguing that the new way of casting a ballot in electronic voting precincts made voters’ choices commonly visible. Watchdogs claim that the Central Election Commission had falsely promised before the vote to address the problem as voters and observers massively reported that upon casting a ballot, traces of ink on the back of the ballot paper made the voters’ choice easily visible to others. Read Details.
16:00 – CEC Alleges Pressure on Staff, Says It Will Forward Cases to “Relevant Bodies”
The Central Election Commission (CEC) alleges “intense pressure” on its staff, including commission members at all levels and those working in overseas precincts. According to CEC spokesperson Natia Ioseliani, some CEC staffers have received “offensive phone calls and messages containing threats” and have also been subjected to “insults, pressure, bullying, and the use of hate speech” on social media. According to the statement, the pressure has been exerted both on individual employees and on the CEC’s official social media pages. “Any call or message that goes against the law will be forwarded to the relevant authorities for further action,” Ioseliani said.
15:00 – My Vote Demands Annulment of Results in 246 Precincts Citing “Grave Violations”
My Vote, a local observer mission uniting dozens of Georgian civil society organizations, said it had filed complaints in 29 districts calling for the annulment of the results of 246 precincts with a total of 417,305 voters. According to the watchdog, the complaints were written about serious violations found in the precincts, which grossly violated the basic principles of elections – secrecy and free expression of will. Read More.
14:00 – Citing Vote Secrecy Breaches, GYLA Seeks Annulment of Results in All 2,263 Electronic Precincts
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), which deployed a local monitoring mission to observe the 2024 elections, has called for the results of all 2,263 electronic precincts to be annulled, citing mass violations of voting secrecy. According to the watchdog, violations included the ruling Georgian Dream party installing cameras in polling stations, some of which captured views of sensitive areas such as registration desks, verification machines, voting booths, and the main ballot box. The ballots used in the electronic voting were also so thin that voters’ choices were visible even from the back, mainly through the traces of markers given to voters to fill in the party circles. Read More.
12:00 – Prosecutor Launches Investigation into Election Fraud Allegations, Summons President for Questioning
The Georgian Prosecutor General’s Office reported that it had opened an investigation into the alleged rigging of the parliamentary elections on the basis of the address of the CEC under Article 164 (Interference with the work of election or referendum commissions) of the Criminal Code. It also noted that Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili was summoned for questioning on October 31 on the basis of the CEC’s statement and information disseminated online indicating that she had evidence of fraud.
Tuesday, October 29
EaP CSF Steering Committee Calls for Non-Recognition of Elections in Georgia
the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Steering Committee issued a statement expressing concern over the conduct of the October 26 parliamentary elections in Georgia and calling for the non-recognition of the official results.
15:10 – CSOs Launch Open Platform to Tackle Election Fraud
Representatives of civil society organizations announced during a meeting their decision to create an open platform where all relevant experts and pro-European parties, as well as Western partners and organizations, will work together to develop action plans and strategies for conducting a detailed and impartial international investigation into all cases of fraud identified during the elections. The platform will be used to share knowledge and experience, as well as to find ways to communicate with society to get out of the political crisis. They call on civil society, academic groups, and political parties to work together for the future of Georgia.
14:00 – CEC Slams Election-Related “Disinformation”
The CEC representative briefed society on what she called disinformation campaign. She said some “manipulative and unfounded information” is being spread in the media and on social media and has taken on the form of a campaign.
She discussed several controversial cases. These included allegations that some vote-counting machines produced results different from reality, that citizens voted massively with expired IDs, that some invalid ballots were counted, apparently in favour of the GD, etc. The CEC representative denied all these allegations.
She accused the opposition parties and President Salome Zurabishvili of making discrediting statements as if the voting technologies had been used to rig the elections.
12:00 – Speaker Papuashvili Denies Allegations of Election Fraud
At a briefing, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili denied allegations of electoral fraud, saying: “These days we are witnessing the process of declaring illegitimate the elections that were meticulously conducted at the highest level.” This process, he said, is aimed at “creating a wave of protests and unrest in Georgia and developing the desired revolutionary scenario”. He added: “The government has made great efforts not to give the opponents a pretext to question the credibility of the elections.” Papuashvili dismissed the observers’ allegations and their evidence of electoral fraud, saying their photos and video footage are”pseudo-evidence.”
Papuashvili lashed out at observers, the opposition and the President, accusing them of lying while he was quoting highly disputed figures to defend GD’s victory.
Monday, October 28
Matthew Miller: U.S. Wants Full Investigation into Georgian Elections
The U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the U.S. joins international and local observers in calling for a full investigation into reports of election-related violations in Georgia’s October 26 elections. He did not specify that the investigating body should be the Georgian one, but said that the U.S. is consulting with European partners on what might be an appropriate body to conduct such an investigation.
Canada to Reassess Relations with Georgia After Claims of Rigged Elections
Global Affairs Canada issued a statement on the parliamentary elections in Georgia, announcing a reassessment of relations and calling for an investigation into the violations identified by international observers on election day. The Government of Canada also calls on the Georgian authorities to respect the rights of peaceful demonstrators and commends Georgians for their active participation in the elections.
Sweden Suspends Cooperation with Georgia After Claims of Rigged Elections
The Swedish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, told the media that the Swedish government had decided to suspend cooperation between the two countries. Sweden is one of the biggest donors of Georgia and its aid has amounted to almost USD 19 million a year. Dousa noted that cooperation could be resumed if Georgia returned to the EU path.
Sunday, October 27
Blinken: U.S. Condemns Breaches of Int. Norms During Oct.26 Elections, Calls for Investigation
The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken issued a statement on the parliamentary elections in Georgia, condemning “all contraventions of international norms” and joining the “calls from international and local observers for a full investigation of all reports of election-related violations.”
Latvian, Lithuanian MFAs Question the ‘Free and Fair’ Nature of Georgian Elections
The Foreign Ministries of Latvia and Lithuania issued statements on the Georgian parliamentary elections, both questioning the electoral process. The Latvian Foreign Ministry calls for an investigation of all violations noted by local and international observers, while the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry finds it difficult to generally recognize these elections as free and fair.
22:17 – Latvian President: Nobody has Right to Steal Georgia’s European Dream
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed solidarity with the Georgian people in a social media post, saying, “Georgian people have European dream, no one has the right to steal this dream through intimidation and manipulation. Full solidarity with the people of Georgia and President Salome Zurabishvili.”
21:51 – Polish FM Reacts to President Zurabishvili’s Rejection of Elections
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski in a social media post reacted to Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili’s rejection of the official election results by saying, “The President of Georgia has announced that the parliamentary elections were falsified. Europe must now stand with the Georgian people.”
21:30 – ISFED: PVT, CEC Results “May Not Properly Reflect” Voters’ Will
“The results of the parliamentary elections may not properly reflect the will of the Georgian voters,” said the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a key local election monitoring organization, in its closing statement on Election Day observation. According to the statement, the results of ISFED’s Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), a statistical method used to verify official results, “are in line with the results announced by the Central Election Commission”. However, the PVT results cannot be used “as a measure of the validity of the electoral process,” ISFED argues, saying that “the violations of a fundamental nature observed on election day influenced the expression of the free will of the voters.”
According to ISFED, campaign violations such as pressure and intimidation of voters, confiscation of ID cards, collection and processing of personal data, and vote buying “significantly damaged confidence in the elections”. Among the “serious” election-day violations identified by ISFED were “ballot stuffing, multiple voting, unprecedented levels of voter bribery, expulsion of observers from polling stations, as well as instances of mobilization of voters outside polling stations, collection of their personal data and control of their voting intentions.” The watchdog says that “given the combination of these violations, the results may not reflect the will of the voters,” adding that ISFED, therefore, doesn’t plan to publish the PVT results.
21:00 – President Salome Zurabishvili Rejects Election Results
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili refused to recognize the election results that gave victory to the GD. At a special briefing surrounded by leaders of opposition political parties, Zurabishvili said it was a “total fraud” and a “total robbery” of votes. She said the elections were “Russian” in nature. “We were witnesses and victims of a Russian special operation,” she said, adding, “They took away our electoral institute.”
She called on citizens to gather the next day, October 28 at 19:00 on Rustaveli Avenue, near the parliament, to show the world that Georgians do not recognize the election results. “Nothing can make these elections legitimate,” she concluded.
20:30 – Charles Michel Calls CEC to Investigate Electoral Irregularities; EUCO to Assess Relations with Georgia in November
European Council President Charles Michel called on the CEC to investigate election irregularities and said he intends to put Georgia on the agenda of the informal European Council in November.
“Following the parliamentary elections in Georgia, I intend to put Georgia on the agenda of the informal #EUCO in Budapest. We note the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary assessment and call on the Central Election Commission and other relevant authorities to fulfill their duty to swiftly, transparently, and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof. These alleged irregularities must be seriously clarified and addressed. We reiterate the EU’s call to the Georgian leadership to demonstrate its firm commitment to the country’s EU path, also in line with EUCO June and October conclusions. Constructive and inclusive dialogue across the political spectrum is now paramount. The November EUCO will assess the situation and set the next steps in our relations with Georgia,” Michel tweeted.
19:10 – Unity-UNM Not To Enter Parliament Either
Unity-UNM leader Tina Bokuchava said the coalition would not enter parliament. “When we said that we do not recognize the election results, this in itself means that we are not going to enter parliament,” Bokuchava said.
Yesterday, the Unity-UNM rejected the official election results after the Central Election Commission’s figures gave the victory to the GD in dramatic contradiction to two credible exit polls and against the backdrop of various electoral violations throughout the voting day.
18:30 – Hungarian PM Orban to Visit Tbilisi
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will arrive in Tbilisi tomorrow for an official visit, the Georgian government administration reported. The visit will last for two days, Oct. 28-29. PM Orban will be accompanied by a delegation of Hungarian ministers and officials.
Hungary’s leader congratulated the ruling party on its alleged victory at a time when even preliminary results had not been announced and only conflicting exit polls were out.
18:11 – Coalition for Change MP Candidates Renounce Mandates
The Coalition for Change’s front runner Nana Malashkhia renounced MP mandate and announced the others in the list will follow as well. “We refuse our parliamentary mandates. I, Nana Malashkhia, number one on the party list, entered politics for ideas and to protect the interests of this country. Therefore, today I renounce my parliamentary mandate… The twenty leaders of the list join me,” Nana Malashkhia said.
18:10 – Senior European MPs: EU Cannot Recognize Results of 26 October Vote
Senior European parliamentarians issued a joint statement with their Canadian counterpart saying “the elections were neither free nor fair” and that “the European Union cannot recognize the result.” The MPs call to sanction “those responsible for unfair electoral influence, intimidation and threats against the opposition and civil society.” Read More.
18:00 – Helsinki Commission Chair to State Dep.: Investigate Fraud Allegations in Georgia
U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Joe Wilson called on the U.S. State Department to investigate the allegations of fraud and Russian interference in the October 26 Parliamentary elections in Georgia. “I am troubled by the credible allegations of systematic violations in the Georgian parliamentary election. I am also disturbed by the well-documented efforts by Russia to sway the election,” the Chairman said. Read More.
15:45 – Strong Georgia Rejects Official Election Results
Strong Georgia has joined other opposition coalitions in rejecting the official election results. “This election and its results are unacceptable to us, therefore we do not recognize the results of yesterday’s elections… We will continue to protect the votes of each and every one of our citizens,” announced Strong Georgia leader Mamuka Khazaradze.
15:00 IEOM Issues Preliminary Findings and Conclusion on October 26 Elections
International Election Observation Mission issued its Preliminary Findings and Conclusions on the October 26 Parliamentary elections, saying that elections “unfolded amid entrenched polarization in an environment marred by concerns over recently adopted legislation, its impact on fundamental freedoms and civil society.” While “contestants could generally campaign freely “reports of pressure on voters, particularly on public sector employees, remained widespread in the campaign.” The report says that this coupled with extensive tracking of voters on election day, “raised concerns about the ability of some voters to cast their vote without fear of retribution.”
The document also says that while the legal framework provides an adequate basis for democratic elections, “recent frequent amendments marked a step backward, raising concerns over its potential use for political gain.” It is also notes the issue of the public perception of the impartiality of election administration, saying it was negatively impacted by concerns about recent amendments, which “vest control over the selection and nomination process of the CEC to the ruling party, the cancellation of the opposition-nominated deputy chairperson position, its decision-making process, as well as perceived links between non-partisan members and the ruling party.”
While noting that while the introduction of the electronic devices was supported by most stakeholders, the report says that “key stakeholders were not provided access to the audit processes and had limited access to related documentation, limiting transparency, at odds with international good practice.”
14:00 – NDI, IRI International Observer Mission Preliminary Assessment of Georgian Elections
The preliminary statement by NDI says that although polling stations were generally calm and organized,
“citizen observers reported a significant increase in serious violations from the previous elections including violence, voter intimidation and instances of ballot stuffing.”
It further states that “It is clear that the pre-election period failed to meet fundamental standards for democratic elections.” It further notes that the government’s passage of the Agents’ law labeling civic actors as foreign agents and its campaign to intimidate dissenting opinion “generated a climate of fear” noting also that “ruling party leaders also threatened to criminalize opposition political parties.”
Noting that “throughout election day, reports from citizen observers provided valuable information to support our observation findings” the statement reads that “on election day, citizen observers witnessed widespread violations of the neutrality zone around polling stations by gatherings of ruling party figures and unauthorized persons” as well as intimidation of voters.”
IRI statement cites legal changes that influenced pre-election environment including the altering of the composition of the Election Commission (CEC), including the abolishment of the opposition-nominated deputy chairperson and a lower threshold for consensus-based decision-making across all commissions, adding that for the above reasons, the “trust in the independence and impartiality of the CEC is abysmally low.”
The statement talks of the use of state resources by the ruling party to “boost resources to boost its campaign and suppress voter turnout, including using local government officials to do their political bidding.” The document underlines the use of civil service and social assistance “to influence people to support the ruling party and/or to stigmatize support for other parties.”
The media landscape is characterized as “heavily biased toward GD,” with the ruling party narrative dominating the airtime, while opposition parties “struggle to gain equal media access” and independent media outlets have faced harassment.
The document raises concerns about the voter registration system, referring to the residency requirement maintained by the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the parliament, which is deemed “an unnecessary and arbitrary criterion for the parliamentary elections.” This arrangement also means that the system is “vulnerable to potential technical manipulation.”
Regarding the actual election day, the statement highlights 22 “critical incidents” spanning across Samegrelo and Zemo-Svaneti, Kakheti, Imereti, and Mtshketa-Mtianeti, as well as Tbilisi and Kvemo Kartli.
Pressure, intimidation, and harassment of voters are cited as the most prevalent forms of violation, taking place both inside and outside polling stations. The findings further claim that, in “isolated instances,” cases of vote buying, ballot stuffing, and attempts at multiple voting also occurred.
The statement also reads that certain domestic observer groups experienced “intimidation and interference in the course of their work, in some cases being ejected from polling stations.” Among the critical incidents have been captured are also cases of violence between the representatives of ruling and opposition parties and “brazen attempts at ballot stuffing.”
The statement stresses the problem of ballot secrecy “due to the prevalence of Georgian Dream video cameras within polling stations, reinforcing concerns raised by citizens regarding intimidation inside and outside polling stations.“
13:20 – ENEMO: Elections Were Held in Polarized and Restrictive Environment, Undermining Inclusivity, Transparency, and Fairness
The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) assessed the election process during a briefing, saying that “the 2024 parliamentary elections in Georgia were held in a polarized and restrictive environment, undermining inclusivity, transparency, and fairness. Critical violations included violence against opposition members, voter intimidation, smear campaigns targeting observers, and extensive misuse of administrative resources. Restrictive enforcement of campaign regulations limited competition, exerted significant pressure on civil society and the media, and reduced space for government criticism.”
ENEMO emphasized that “although the election administration generally conducted the process professionally and efficiently,” there are “concerns regarding the CEC’s independence and impartiality.” The observer stressed: “The cumulative impact of these observed issues significantly compromised the democratic integrity of the election process.”
Read ENEMO’s preliminary findings and conclusions here.
13:10 – Gakharia: Elections Rigged, No Time for Hopelessness, “Smart Forms” of Protest Needed
For Georgia party leader, ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia held a briefing stating that the will of the Georgian people was violated in the elections, but noted, “Now is not the time of hopelessness […] we must all turn to the smart forms of protest, which will be aimed first and foremost at protecting the choice of our citizens, protecting the European future of our country, and protecting the electoral institution as such,” stressing, “Saving the election institution, saving the results of yesterday’s elections is directly connected to saving the European future of the country.”
Gakharia stated that the elections were rigged both on election day and before. “It can be stated by facts that Ivanishvili violated the will of the Georgian people,” Gakharia said, adding that the official results “of course do not reflect the will of the Georgian people.” He said the facts of the violations had been made available to local and international observer missions.
“I can tell you unequivocally that intimidation of voters, bribery of voters, manipulation of voter cards was systematic […] to steal the elections and the will of the Georgian people,” Gakharia said.
12:47 – Khazaradze: Ivanishvili Carried Out a KGB Special Operation
Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of the Strong Georgia coalition, reacted to the official election results in a social media post, writing, “It’s perfectly understandable what happened. Bidzina carried out a special KGB special operation. The elections were totally rigged, they took people’s votes and are preparing the country for Russia. This will not work! I will not and cannot agree with this forgery… Never!”
12:00 – ISFED Briefing: Violations Had Substantial Impact on Election Results
The head of the election watchdog ISFED, whose 1500 observers monitored the elections, Nino Dolidze, during the midday briefing, said that the elections were marked by serious violations, as there were cases of pressure, threats, illegal collection of personal data, the expulsion of observers, irregularities with voter marking procedure, breaches of vote secrecy, mobilization of unauthorized people near polling stations, cases of multiple voting and exercise of control over the voters, of not allowing observers do their job and in some instance kicking them out from the precincts, the insertion of multiple ballots into the ballot box, and others.
These violations had a serious impact on the results of the elections, according to ISFED. The watchdog also said that the manipulation and use of administrative resources by the government, as well as the use of state infrastructure, social and economic programmes for electoral purposes, the involvement of officials in pre-election agitation, the illegal collection of personal data of citizens, all had a significant impact on the results of the elections.
Dolidze also spoke about other factors that influenced the results, such as the failure of the authorities to open additional polling stations for the Georgian diaspora, recent electoral changes to the work of the CEC and its staffing, and changes to the rules governing the distribution of roles at polling stations.
11:15 – PM Irakli Kobakhidze Holds Post-Election Briefing
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze holds a post-election briefing. “The Georgian people made the only choice that had no alternative; they chose peace and the country’s development, its bright, European future,” declared Kobakhidze. He claimed that the ruling party had won with a record 1,200,000 votes. He also claimed that the elections were “peaceful,” alleging staged provocations by opposition-leaning television crews. He also thanked the Central Election Commission for “administering elections flawlessly.” He also thanked the members of the election commission. In addition, Kobakhidze expressed special gratitude to the Georgian people, who, according to the Prime Minister, “expressed their trust” in the GD. “The fate of peace for Georgia was decided in these elections, and the ‘consumers’ of peace will be all Georgian citizens without exception,” Kobakhidze said. Finally, he pledged promising economic development in the next four years, during which, according to official election data, the GD is supposed to remain in office. “Peace will bring unprecedented development to our country in the next four years,” he concluded.
11:00 – GYLA Speaks of Violations Identified on Election Day
The head of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, Nona Kurdovanidze, held a briefing to assess the Election Day process. She noted that the elections were held “against a background of significant violations, predominantly in an unfair, violent and tense environment”. She listed the main violations:
- Violation of the marking rules – either the CEC commission members did not spray the marking fluid or they asked the voters if they wanted to have the marking fluid sprayed on their fingers; in some cases, the special flashlight failed to detect the marking fluid; there were cases of voting by those voters who seemed to have been marked previously;
- Double verification by voters and the case of the same voter voting several times;
- Obstructing the work of the observers;
- Violation of the secrecy of the vote and influencing the voter’s will; in the majority of the precincts observed by GYLA, the Georgian Dream’s cameras were installed, which monitored the verification machine or the voting booths. Also, there were cases of voters voting with an unauthorized companion.
- Other violations during the elections: Tensions outside the precinct; identification of the voters outside of the precincts by party representatives; interference with the activities of journalists; insufficient performance of functions by members of the commission; facts of illegal agitation; errors related to the use of electronic technologies.
- Violations related to the invalidation of the ballot after the closing of the polling stations, the sealing of the record book, and the familiarization with the documentation of the polling station.
“The serious violations that occurred on election day and the doubts about the reliability of the procedures raise the need for the CEC to clarify – against the background of the complete list of voters loaded into the verification machines – what mechanisms can be used to say with certainty that no duplicate lists were activated in different polling stations. This issue needs to be clarified, particularly as there were serious breaches of the marking procedures,” watchdog said.
10:40 – CEC Praises Electronic Technologies, Denies Allegations of Vote Manipulation
In a post-election briefing, CEC Chairman Giorgi Kalandarishvili said that the elections were successfully conducted with the use of electronic technologies. “Electronic technologies were successfully used in the elections,” he said, adding that “our planning and organization of the process was properly carried out at every stage”. He cited several statistics to prove that his words were true. For example, he said that out of up to 15,000 electronic machines used in the elections, only 20 broke down, and still in all the precincts the voting process continued. Kalandarishvili denied allegations of vote-rigging through multiple voting, specifically refuting claims that citizens voted at multiple polling stations, with their personal information logged into verification machines at more than one location.
In addition, Kalandarishvili presented official results based on 3100 out of 3111 polling stations across Georgia. The results of the parties that passed the 5 percent threshold are as follows:
- Coalition for Change – 10.92%
- Unity-UNM – 10.12%
- Strong Georgia – 8.78%
- Gakharia – For Georgia – 7.76%
- Georgian Dream – 54.8%
09:30 – Over 99% Precincts Counted, CEC Results: GD 54.23%, Opposition – 37.44%
With more than 99% of precincts counted, official results from the Central Election Commission give the ruling Georgian Dream party a 54.23% lead. The combined total of opposition parties that passed the 5% threshold is 37.44%, including:
- Coalition for Change (Ahali+Girchi – More Freedom + Droa) – 10.82%
- Unity to Save Georgia (UNM+Strategy Agmashenebeli) – 10.11%
- Strong Georgia (Lelo for Georgia+For People+Citizens+Freedom Square) – 8.76%
- For Georgia (ex-PM Gakharia’s party) – 7.75%
01:30 – Strong Georgia “Indignant” About Official Preliminary Results
“We are indignant by what the CEC dared to announce. The results they announced do not reflect the will of the Georgian people. Against the backdrop of elections conducted with nationwide intimidation and bribery, the announced figures contradict the historical and present-day choice of the Georgian people,” said Ana Dolidze, one of the leaders of Strong Georgia.
“What they have announced to us are not the real results, they have announced results that favor them, which causes our indignation,” said Aleko Elisashvili, another leader.
00:50 – My Vote Speaks of ‘Large Scale’ Rigging Scheme as Preliminary Results Give Lead to GD, Says Will Demand Annulment of Official Results
My Vote, a local observer mission uniting dozens of Georgian civil society organizations, said it identified a “large scheme” to rig the 2024 parliamentary elections and will demand the annulment of the official results. According to Toloraia, “It became clear that a complex scheme had been worked out to rig the elections,” using methods such as “‘breaking down the verification system, violating marking procedures, and preventing observers from monitoring the voter identification process.” My Vote pointed to “mass” incidents of voters being given two or more ballots instead of one during the first half of the day, and said there were also cases where the ruling party’s field was already marked on the ballot. The mission said it also “became clear” that numerous reports of confiscating or “renting” voters’ ID cards and collecting their personal information during the campaign were used to carry out the same rigging scheme.
According to My Vote, as of 10-11 p.m., the mission’s observers identified 347 violations of the marking process, 89 reports of violations of the secrecy of the vote, 341 cases of unauthorized persons in the polling station, and 96 cases of physical violence, threats, and confrontations, as well as 163 cases of obstruction of My Vote observers.
00:20 – Two Opposition Coalitions Reject Official Preliminary Results
Opposition coalitions Unity-UNM and the Coalition for change leaders have announced on separate briefings that they are not recognizing the official preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission.
“On behalf of the UNM, we declare that we will not recognize the results…