The Central Election Commission in Georgia closed a polling station in the southern city of Marneuli on October 26 due to video footage showing ballot stuffing during the parliamentary election. An investigation has been launched under Article 164 of Georgia’s criminal code, which deals with the falsification of elections and carries a punishment of up to two years of imprisonment. Nino Lomjaria, a Georgian lawyer and former ombudswoman, reported that an election observer was attacked while filming the ballot box being stuffed. The chairperson of Georgia’s Central Election Committee, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, called the video “disturbing” and stated that such incidents would not be allowed to undermine the effort put into the election day.
The parliamentary elections in Georgia on October 26 will determine whether the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party will remain in power. Concerns about Georgia’s democracy have heightened following the passing of a foreign agents law by the ruling Georgian Dream party. This law requires organizations receiving foreign funding to be labeled as “foreign agents,” mirroring repressive Russian legislation. Additionally, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the de facto leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, declared a trend of rapprochement with Russia by suggesting that Georgia should “apologize” for Russia’s 2008 war against the country. Tensions have run high at some polling stations as Georgians head out to vote in the parliamentary elections.
The Interior Ministry in Georgia has also launched an investigation into the incident of ballot stuffing in Marneuli. The investigation is specifically focused on the deliberate falsification of election documents such as voter lists, protocols, ballots, registration logs, and control sheets. This incident has raised concerns about the integrity of the election process and the potential for manipulation. The election observer who was attacked while filming the ballot box being stuffed highlights the challenges faced by those monitoring the electoral process and the risks involved.
The video footage of ballot stuffing in Marneuli has raised alarm among election officials and observers. The chairperson of Georgia’s Central Election Committee emphasized the need to prevent managed or manipulative incidents from undermining the months of effort put into ensuring a fair and transparent election. The incident has cast a shadow over the electoral process and underscores the importance of upholding democratic principles in Georgia. As Georgians head to the polls to cast their votes, the outcome of the parliamentary elections will have significant implications for the country’s future direction and relationship with Russia.
The ruling Georgian Dream party’s actions, including the passage of the foreign agents law and the leader’s statements regarding Russia, have sparked controversy and concern among civil society groups and opposition parties. The trend of rapprochement with Russia and the potential for erosion of democratic norms have raised questions about the ruling party’s commitment to democracy and human rights. The outcome of the parliamentary elections will be closely watched both domestically and internationally, with implications for Georgia’s relations with neighboring countries and its alignment on the geopolitical stage. The incident of ballot stuffing in Marneuli serves as a reminder of the challenges facing Georgia as it seeks to strengthen its democratic institutions and ensure free and fair elections.
