EU eyes Georgia amid election fraud allegations

Last weekend’s parliamentary elections in Georgia have sparked significant controversy amid allegations of electoral manipulation before and during polling day.

Key concerns include supposed vote-buying targeting vulnerable groups, misuse of administrative power, and possible tampering with new electronic voting systems. Accusations suggest the ruling Georgian Dream party used voter intimidation and criminal networks to sway results.

Despite pre-election opinion and exit polls indicating different outcomes, Georgian Dream claimed a decisive victory, prompting opposition parties, the president, and the public to question the legitimacy of the result. With international observers noting irregularities and EU officials calling for investigations, the situation underscores a serious challenge for Georgia’s democratic future and its EU integration ambitions.

Host Evi Kiorri spoke with Dr Tinatin Akhvlediani, a research fellow in the EU Foreign Policy Unit at CEPS, to analyse the situation in Georgia.