Georgia confirms ruling party won disputed election after recount despite fraud allegations
The EU and US have called for a full investigation, raising concerns about Georgia’s democratic progress and its EU aspirations
Officials in Georgia said on Thursday that a partial recount confirmed the ruling party had won its disputed election, with Washington and Brussels demanding an investigation.
The pro-Western opposition said Saturday’s parliamentary vote was “stolen” by the ruling Georgian Dream party and refused to recognise the results, plunging the Caucasus country into uncertainty.
Pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili – at loggerheads with the governing party – has declared the election results “illegitimate”, alleging there was a “Russian special operation” to undermine the vote.
The Kremlin has denied interference.
The central election commission said that a recount at some 12 per cent of polling stations, involving 14 per cent of the vote, “didn’t lead to a significant change to previously announced official results”.
“Final tallies only slightly changed at some nine per cent of recounted polling stations,” a spokeswoman said.
