Election Observer: The Election in Georgia Marked by Fear

An election marked by fear and that does not live up to democratic rules of the game. This is what Per Eklund says, who led a delegation of election observers in Georgia. Some cheating certainly took place on election day, but primarily it took place beforehand.

» Published: October 30 2024

Election Observer: The Election in Georgia Marked by Fear
Photo: Shakh Aivazov/AP/TT

The official election result, a victory for the ruling party Georgian Dream with nearly 54 percent of the votes, has been questioned by the opposition and large parts of the Western world.

On Monday evening, tens of thousands gathered to demonstrate outside the parliament in the capital Tbilisi.

Per Eklund, former EU ambassador to Georgia, has just returned from the country, where he led a delegation of election observers from the think tank National Democratic Institute (NDI).

He has brought with him testimony of harassment, threats, vote-buying, and confiscated ID cards. Partly on election day. But even more important, he says, is what happened before.

"Has its agents"

Georgia is a poor country where the ruling party, according to Eklund, has created and controls large amounts of "partly artificial jobs".

There are plenty of testimonies of threats that say "we know that your brother works there and there, and if you don't vote for us, he'll lose his job". People know that they have their agents and that they risk their job if they don't vote correctly. The election has been characterized by fear all the way up to election day, he says.

The problem is being able to prove it, since few are willing to come forward.

Independent media publish pictures that allegedly show a man stuffing a box full of ballots. But 90 percent voted in modern polling stations where that type of fraud is not possible, emphasizes Eklund, who believes that the election result itself may be correct.

It's the entire process leading up to the election that is incorrect and undemocratic. Georgian Dream controls all major media, the judiciary, and uses its administrative resources.

Turbulent

A few days before the election, Georgian Dream announced a large donation to the church. Shortly thereafter, the Georgian patriarch went out and urged church members to vote for "lasting peace" and "Christian traditions" – according to Eklund, unmistakable "code language" for the ruling party.

Per Eklund looks bleakly at Georgia's future.

80–90 percent of the population has consistently been clear about how they want the country to develop: towards Europe. Whatever Georgian Dream says, everything suggests that it's not their top priority. They're talking about banning opposition parties. In combination with a society where people easily take to the streets, I believe it will be turbulent for a long time to come. We've only seen the beginning.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Israel Updates Music Festival Death
2 MIN READ

Israel Updates Music Festival Death Toll to 378 After Investigation

Two Dead in Norwegian Plane
1 MIN READ

Two Dead in Norwegian Plane Crash Near Bergen Lake

Pentagon Probes Use of Signal
1 MIN READ

Pentagon Probes Use of Signal App for Discussing Yemen Attack Plans

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Frederiksen to USA: Annexation Not an Option, Let's Strengthen Arctic Security

Seoul Braces for Verdict as
3 MIN READ

Seoul Braces for Verdict as South Korea Awaits Yoon's Fate

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Rises as Aid Efforts Intensify

Trump Fires Key Security Officials
2 MIN READ

Trump Fires Key Security Officials After Oval Office Meeting

Serbian Students Bike 130 Miles
1 MIN READ

Serbian Students Bike 130 Miles to EU Parliament Seeking Support

Iranian Judge Linked to 1988
1 MIN READ

Iranian Judge Linked to 1988 Executions Dies at 70

UN Alarmed by Reports of
1 MIN READ

UN Alarmed by Reports of Civilian Executions in Sudan

Mother and Daughter Found Shot
1 MIN READ

Mother and Daughter Found Shot Dead in Norway; Suspect Also Dead

Elon Musk to Stay as
1 MIN READ

Elon Musk to Stay as Advisor to Trump, Confirms JD Vance

Israeli Legal Experts Call for
1 MIN READ

Israeli Legal Experts Call for War Crimes Probe into Gaza Attack

EU Parliament Approves Delay in
1 MIN READ

EU Parliament Approves Delay in Key Sustainability Rules

Denmark Stands Firm on Sovereignty
2 MIN READ

Denmark Stands Firm on Sovereignty in Talks with US

Modi's New Law Fuels Discrimination
1 MIN READ

Modi's New Law Fuels Discrimination Concerns in India

Israel Probes Deadly Ambulance Shooting
1 MIN READ

Israel Probes Deadly Ambulance Shooting in Gaza Strip

California Wildfires Claim 30 Lives
1 MIN READ

California Wildfires Claim 30 Lives as Recovery Efforts Continue

Norovirus Hits Queen Mary 2
1 MIN READ

Norovirus Hits Queen Mary 2 Cruise, Over 240 Passengers Affected

Rubio Affirms US Commitment to
3 MIN READ

Rubio Affirms US Commitment to NATO, Calls for Increased Defense Spending

Bandidos European President Michael Rosenvold
1 MIN READ

Bandidos European President Michael Rosenvold Passes Away

Denmark Pledges Major Support Package
1 MIN READ

Denmark Pledges Major Support Package to Ukraine

Russia Not on US Tariff
2 MIN READ

Russia Not on US Tariff List Despite Broad Global Reach

Gaza Blockade Endangers Pregnant Women
1 MIN READ

Gaza Blockade Endangers Pregnant Women and Newborns, Says Save the Children

Tragedy Strikes as Boats Sink
1 MIN READ

Tragedy Strikes as Boats Sink Near Greece and Turkey, 16 Migrants Dead

Search for Missing MH370 Paused
1 MIN READ

Search for Missing MH370 Paused Until Year-End, Says Malaysia

17 Tesla Cars Set Ablaze
1 MIN READ

17 Tesla Cars Set Ablaze in Rome; Italy Boosts Security Measures

UN Envoy Urges Israel to
2 MIN READ

UN Envoy Urges Israel to Halt Strikes in Southern Syria

US Calls for UN Official's
1 MIN READ

US Calls for UN Official's Removal Over Alleged Anti-Semitic Views

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev Meets US
1 MIN READ

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev Meets US Officials in Washington for Talks

31 Killed in Israeli Air
1 MIN READ

31 Killed in Israeli Air Strike on Gaza School Shelter

Netanyahu's Visit to Hungary Sparks
3 MIN READ

Netanyahu's Visit to Hungary Sparks ICC Withdrawal Decision

Slovakia Approves Culling of 350
1 MIN READ

Slovakia Approves Culling of 350 Bears After Fatal Attack

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Israeli Air Strikes in Syria Leave Four Dead, Hit Military Sites

Mike Waltz's Extensive Use of
1 MIN READ

Mike Waltz's Extensive Use of Signal Raises Security Concerns

Frederiksen Pledges Support for Greenland
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Pledges Support for Greenland During Challenging Times

Elon Musk Expected to Exit
2 MIN READ

Elon Musk Expected to Exit White House Role Soon, Sources Say

NATO Faces Silence on Turkey's
2 MIN READ

NATO Faces Silence on Turkey's Journalist Arrest Before Key Meeting

Federal Court Dismisses Corruption Charges
1 MIN READ

Federal Court Dismisses Corruption Charges Against NYC Mayor Adams

Congo President Commutes Death Sentences
1 MIN READ

Congo President Commutes Death Sentences for Americans in Coup Plot