In a bold display of support for Georgia's ruling party, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly endorsed the results of a disputed election during his visit to Tbilisi on Tuesday. Orban praised the electoral outcome, labeling it "free and democratic," while conveniently overlooking the multitude of accusations regarding vote rigging and other irregular activities reported by independent observers.
The election, which took place just days prior, resulted in the ruling Georgian Dream party reportedly securing approximately 54% of the vote, a result contested by both the opposition and President Salome Zourabichvili. The president has expressed skepticism regarding the integrity of the election process, alleging a "Russian special operation" to manipulate the outcome.
Despite widespread criticism from both the European Union and the United States urging for an independent investigation into the claims of electoral malpractice — including issues like intimidation and violence — Orban's statements reflect a stark deviation from the collective concerns of the EU. After talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, he noted the double standards he perceives in European politics, where conservative victories are more readily dismissed as undemocratic.
These comments come against the backdrop of mass protests in Georgia, where tens of thousands have taken to the streets, contesting the legitimacy of the elections. The Hungarian Prime Minister, alongside his foreign minister, chose to ignore significant concerns raised by other EU nations regarding the conduct of the election.
Georgia's independent monitoring group, "My Vote," has detailed various alleged electoral violations, asserting that public employees were coerced into revealing personal identification details and that vote-buying practices emerged in numerous polling stations. They reported instances of "carousel voting," where individuals could cast votes multiple times using the same ID.
Opposition members criticize the results vehemently, with claims that the election was effectively "stolen," a sentiment echoed by the European Commission, which called for swift investigations into these claims of electoral malpractice. In response, Georgia's election commission has initiated a recount at select polling stations, defending the integrity of the electoral system and rejecting allegations of duplicity.
As tensions mount between Georgian citizens, their government, and international observers, the full implications of this disputed election remain to be seen, particularly as Georgia navigates its complex relationship with both Europe and Russia.
The election, which took place just days prior, resulted in the ruling Georgian Dream party reportedly securing approximately 54% of the vote, a result contested by both the opposition and President Salome Zourabichvili. The president has expressed skepticism regarding the integrity of the election process, alleging a "Russian special operation" to manipulate the outcome.
Despite widespread criticism from both the European Union and the United States urging for an independent investigation into the claims of electoral malpractice — including issues like intimidation and violence — Orban's statements reflect a stark deviation from the collective concerns of the EU. After talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, he noted the double standards he perceives in European politics, where conservative victories are more readily dismissed as undemocratic.
These comments come against the backdrop of mass protests in Georgia, where tens of thousands have taken to the streets, contesting the legitimacy of the elections. The Hungarian Prime Minister, alongside his foreign minister, chose to ignore significant concerns raised by other EU nations regarding the conduct of the election.
Georgia's independent monitoring group, "My Vote," has detailed various alleged electoral violations, asserting that public employees were coerced into revealing personal identification details and that vote-buying practices emerged in numerous polling stations. They reported instances of "carousel voting," where individuals could cast votes multiple times using the same ID.
Opposition members criticize the results vehemently, with claims that the election was effectively "stolen," a sentiment echoed by the European Commission, which called for swift investigations into these claims of electoral malpractice. In response, Georgia's election commission has initiated a recount at select polling stations, defending the integrity of the electoral system and rejecting allegations of duplicity.
As tensions mount between Georgian citizens, their government, and international observers, the full implications of this disputed election remain to be seen, particularly as Georgia navigates its complex relationship with both Europe and Russia.
