Georgia's Election Chief Splashed With Paint Amid Protests Over Controversial Polls | Watch

Last Updated:November 17, 2024, 17:00 IST

Georgia's parliamentary elections on October 26 were mired in controversy, with opposition parties accusing fraud and Russian interference.

Opposition parties have rejected the results of Georgia's parliamentary elections and accused widespread fraud. (AP)

The head of Georgia’s Election Commission was doused in black paint on Saturday during a meeting where he was confirming the results of a divisive parliamentary election, confirming the victory of the ruling party.

David Kirtadze, a member of the opposition United Movement (UNM) party, splashed black paint on Central Election Commission chairman Giorgi Kalandarishvili, resulting in an eye injury, as per videos broadcasted on local channels and social media.

Kalandarishvili had convened the meeting to confirm the victory of the ruling, pro-Russian Georgian Dream party in the October 26 parliamentary election. Opposition parties had rejected the results of the elections and alleged widespread fraud and Russian interference.

The party received 53.9 per cent of the ballot, winning 89 seats in the 150-seat Georgian parliament, according to local media. After the vote, supporters of opposition parties staged several protests in the capital Tbilisi outside the commission building as Kalandarishvili was announcing the final results.

Georgia Election Chief Denies Vote Rigging

Before the paint-throwing incident, Kirtadze told Kalandarishvili that the official results of the vote did not reflect the “true choice" of Georgian voters. The election commission chief responded by saying that the use of “pressure, bullying and personal insults" proved there was no evidence of vote rigging.

After the parliament was interrupted when Kirtadze threw black paint at the chairman, Kalandarishvili came back to the meeting with a plaster on his left eye. “It once again becomes evident that there is no tangible proof indicating that the elections were manipulated," he said. The ministry of internal affairs said it launched an investigation into the incident.

American and European polling observers said the official election results suggested manipulation marked by “bribery, double voting and violence" that diverged sharply from exit polls. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili also rejected the results and said Georgia has fallen victim to pressure from Russia. The Kremlin has denied accusations of interference.

Why These Elections Were Important?

The parliamentary vote was considered a referendum for the country to join the European Union after the bloc suspended Georgia’s membership application over what it saw as democratic decline – citing the ‘foreign influence law’ that critics say mimicked Russia’s crackdown on civic society.

Opponents of the ruling Georgian Dream have claimed it wants to steer the country away from Europe and back into Russia’s sphere of influence by adopting laws that resemble Moscow’s crackdown on free speech and LGBTQ+ rights. However, the party says it wants to protect Georgia from foreign influence and being dragged into Russia’s war with Ukraine.

The Georgian Dream says it remains committed to seeking a future in the European Union, although the bloc and the United States have urged a full investigation of the election. Zourabichvili said she would not issue a decree to convene the new parliament.

The prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has insisted the elections were free and fair and said parliament would convene within 10 days after the final tally – even without a presidential summons from the President. He had threatened to ban all opposition parties last week if they persisted in actions that violated the Constitution.

(with inputs from agencies)

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News world Georgia's Election Chief Splashed With Paint Amid Protests Over Controversial Polls | Watch