Rise and shine, Sakartvelo!

In the latest parliamentary elections held in Georgia on 26 October, the Georgian people’s dream of a European future was stolen from them. Even more so, the dream of independence itself.

Ironically, this was done by the pro-Russian party called Georgian Dream, which is now in power. Or rather, the Kremlin did it with the help of its henchmen. Russia does not let go of countries it considers its colonies.

According to the Central Election Commission of Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party won 53.93% of the vote. Meanwhile, the opposition parties collectively gained almost 38% of the vote: Coalition for Change – 11.03%, Unity – National Movement – 10.16%, Strong Georgia – 8.81%, and Gakharia – For Georgia – 7.77%. However, independent exit polls showed an overall majority of votes gained by the opposition parties.

In terms of fraud, these elections surpassed even the last ones in 2020, when the same pro-Russian party of the odious Bidzina Ivanishvili came to power. Opposition politicians then failed to put up a serious fight, and Western elites made deals with the new Georgian government, turning a blind eye to the trampled democracy.

A large number of violations were reported by all observers. In particular, the international mission ENEMO noted that the elections in Georgia were held ‘in a polarized and restrictive environment that undermined inclusiveness, transparency and fairness, which significantly compromised the democratic integrity of the electoral process’. In addition, ENEMO observers expressed concerns about the ‘independence and impartiality of the Central Election Commission (CEC)’. Even the OSCE, which is often criticized for its very moderate response to violations of democratic norms, noted bribery and ‘numerous reports of pressure on voters’.

But the biggest confirmation of the stolen results was the fact that Georgian Dream announced its victory even before the official election results were announced. They simply drew up the numbers in advance. Only to have a manoeuvre for bargaining with Western elites, they were ashamed to register through the CEC the absolute majority of 56%, which was given to them by the exit poll of the pro-government Imedi TV channel.

The reaction of the Western world to the fraud this time (as well as last time) was rather sluggish. ‘We call on the Central Election Commission of Georgia and other relevant authorities to fulfil their duty to investigate and review election violations and allegations in a prompt, transparent and independent manner. These violations must be clarified and addressed. This is a necessary step to restore confidence in the electoral process,’ the European Commission and EU High Representative Josep Borrell said in a joint statement. The US also called for an investigation into the violations. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken issued a separate statement on the matter.

But there were those who did not turn a blind eye to the transformation of Georgia into a Russian colony. ‘The picture that is emerging in Georgia is clear – the elections were stolen by Putin’s puppet government in Tbilisi. I stand with the people of Georgia as they defend their freedom, their rights and their future,’ former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on the X network. In a joint statement, European parliamentarians also called for non-recognition of the election results in Georgia by the civilized world. The statement was signed by the chairmen of the committees on foreign and European affairs of Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Ireland, Ukraine, Poland, Canada, as well as the deputy speaker of the Swedish parliament and one MEP.

The Georgian opposition immediately defended the choice of its people. From behind bars, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili declared a stolen victory, non-recognition of the election results and called on the people to protest. ‘These elections were taken away from the Georgian people, so we are obliged to constant demonstrations and civil disobedience,’ he said. Tina Bokuchava, the head of his Unity – National Movement party, also declared that she would not recognize the official results. ‘The Georgian Central Election Commission fulfilled Ivanishvili’s dirty order,’ she said. And Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the Coalition for Change, accused the Georgian Dream of carrying out a constitutional coup.

Salome Zurabishvili, President of Georgia, also sided with the Georgians in defending their choice, declaring in a special address to the nation that the elections would not be recognized and calling on citizens to take action. ‘We have witnessed and become victims of a Russian special operation, a hybrid war waged against our people, against our country,’ she said.

The Georgian diaspora is also against Russian traitors, which was confirmed by their votes. Among the people who were not reached by Russian propaganda or intimidation by the current Georgian government, the Georgian Dream managed to win only a miserable 15% of the vote. Tamaz Somkhishvili, a well-known British investor and philanthropist of Georgian origin, called on his countrymen to defend their choice in their homeland and reminded them of how Georgians did it during the Rose Revolution.

But now the situation is more serious. The country’s very sovereignty is at stake. Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said that the country’s government will be approved despite the opposition’s refusal to recognize the results of the vote. And the absence of opposition in parliament will not stop the country from turning into a Russian colony. The Russian henchmen who seized power in Sakartvelo will go to the very end, suppressing protests. Kakha Koladze, the pro-government mayor of Tbilisi, has openly stated this.

The fate of the Georgian people will be decided tonight on Rustaveli Square in the capital. The people who will come to defend their choice today must understand that the methods of the Rose Revolution after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it also considers its colony, will no longer work. The proud people of Georgia must put everything, including their lives, on the line for their independence. Just as Ukrainians did during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. There is no other way to defeat the Russian world.

Source of the article SBI website