‘Democratic Backsliding’: Georgia’s Parliamentary Election Controversy

Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia

Georgia’s parliamentary elections, which took place on 26 October, were billed to be a defining moment for the nation, a chance for the population to choose between Russia and the West. But the results have been anything but definitive. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, claimed victory, yet this has been contested by the pro-EU opposition parties, as well as by Western analysts, journalists, and politicians, including the Georgian president herself.

Georgian Dream has been in power since 2012 and is largely considered a populist, conservative party, with Eurosceptic, pro-Russia foreign policy. There have been many accusations of anti-democratic values, corruption, and authoritarianism. The party is also supported by conservative leaders such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.

The central election committee said that, with over 99% of districts counted, Georgian Dream had won 55% of votes. Party leader and billionaire oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili claimed victory, despite widespread dispute. The four pro-EU opposition parties believed they had won a majority following exit polls conducted by US pollsters HarrisX and Edison Research, but ‘official’ results appeared very different. NATO, the EU and the UN have called for an inquiry into this disparity. 

Relations with Russia and the West have been a key issue in Georgia for many years; like many former-Soviet nations, there remain strong political and economic ties to Moscow. But many in Georgia wish to distance themselves from Russia and its allies, and have hopes to join the EU (Georgia is recognised as a candidate nation). 

However, policies put in place by Georgian Dream may have jeopardised this. The ‘foreign agents’ bill, for example, mandates that non-governmental organisations receiving over 20% of their annual revenue from abroad must register as ‘serving the interests of a foreign power.’ It is dubbed ‘the Russian law’, as it mirrors a specific Kremlin policy used to silence dissent. The confirmation of this bill in May triggered mass protests across Georgia, particularly amongst Gen-Z citizens. 

The president of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, was openly critical of the election result, calling it a ‘complete falsification’ that would ‘legitimize Russia’s takeover of Europe.’ US President Joe Biden also released a statement concerning the election, describing it as ‘democratic backsliding,’ that was ‘marred by numerous recorded misuses of administrative resources as well as voter intimidation and coercion.’ 

Tens of thousands protested the results outside the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi on 28 October, with many carrying EU and Georgian flags. Zourabichvili spoke to the crowd, promising that actions would be taken to remedy the situation: ‘There can be an international review of some of the elements of the election, there can be a call for new elections.’