This Georgian Politician Threw Paint On The Election Chief To Protest The Pro-Russia Ruling Party Winning Again
The head of the election commission was confirming that the ruling pro-Russia party had won the parliamentary elections despite widespread reports of electoral fraud.
An opposition politician in Georgia threw black paint on the head of the election commission as he was confirming that the ruling pro-Russia party had won the parliamentary elections despite widespread reports of electoral fraud.
Since it took power in 2012, the ruling Georgian Dream Party has pushed the country further away from the West and towards Russia.
It has adopted increasingly authoritarian measures mirroring those in Russia, such as anti-LGBTQ laws that ban same-sex couples from getting married and adopting children and people from changing their gender.
In May, it passed a controversial “foreign influence” law similar to a 2012 Russian law that allowed the Russian government to crack down on independent news media, nonprofits and activists who were critical of the Kremlin.
The party has also been reluctant to condemn and impose sanctions on Russia following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine, choosing to maintain a “pragmatic” relationship with Moscow.
On Oct. 26, it won the parliamentary elections for the fourth time in a row, with 53.9% of the vote, despite reports of stuffing ballots, voters being intimidated and public sector workers being coerced, with the incidents being particularly common in rural areas, according to AP.
The results prompted mass protests, as the president, Salome Zourabichvili, and opposition parties rejected the results and urged people to take to the streets to demonstrate against what they say is election fraud and Russian interference.
The EU, US and NATO all called for an investigation, and on Oct. 30, Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the allegations of election fraud.
Russia has denied the allegations, instead accusing Western nations of interfering in Georgia’s internal affairs.
On Saturday Nov. 16, protesters gathered outside the Central Election Commission's office in the capital, Tbilisi, as it announced that the Georgian Dream had indeed won the election.
David Kirtadze, a member of the opposition United National Movement (UNM), then walked up to the commission chair, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, and threw black paint on him.
Before doing so, Kirtadze told Kalandarishvili that the official results did not reflect voters’ “true choice," according to AP.
Kalandarishvili later returned to the meeting with a bandage over his eye.
“It once again becomes evident that there is no tangible proof indicating that the elections were manipulated,” Kalandarishvili told the audience.
The ministry of internal affairs has since launched an investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who has insisted the elections were free and fair, said parliament will convene within 10 days after the official results, even if the Zourabichvili doesn't issue a presidential summon.
The elections on Oct. 26 had been seen as crucial crossroads for the country to decide between whether to align with Russia or the West.
There have been widespread concerns that Georgian Dream's win could endanger democracy, derail Georgia’s hopes of joining NATO and the European Union and increase Russian influence in the country.
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