U.S. Disappointed with Election Results and Georgian Leadership

The United States has condemned final vote tally of November 2 parliamentary elections as fraudulent, which does not “accurately reflects the will of the Georgian people.”

The Central Election Commission (CEC) issued final results of highly-suspicious elections on November 20, almost three weeks after the parliamentary elections, confirming the victory of two governmental parties.

Deputy spokesman of the U.S. Department of State Adam Ereli said at a news briefing on November 20, while commenting on Georgian November 2 parliamentary election results, “what I can say now is that we are deeply disappointed in these results, and in Georgia’s leadership.”

“The results do not accurately reflect the will of the Georgian people, but instead reflect massive vote fraud in Adjara [Autonomous Republic] and other Georgian regions,” Adam Ereli said.

“Specifically, the parallel vote tally and exit polling conducted by reputable independent organizations differ significantly from the results released by the Central Election Commission [on November 20], and these discrepancies in our view, represent or reveal an extensive manipulation of the vote count.  I would say that we are in a regular dialogue on a senior level, both here and in Tbilisi, and we’ll be assessing next steps,” the U.S. official added.

When asked whether the United States considers Georgian government as illegitimate, because of manipulation of election results, Adam Ereli answered, “we’re assessing next steps.  We’ll put out a statement.  I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves here of what we will and will not do.”

Georgian President’s spokesman Kakha Imnadze said, while commenting the U.S. official’s statement, the Department of State has not adequate information regarding developments in Georgia.

“Of course it is not pleasant, when you hear criticism. But I am sure when the new Parliament starts working and when the reason of ballot fraud caused with the inaccurate voter lists are investigated, the [U.S.] Department of State will give different assessment of the Georgian elections,” Kakha Imnadze told reporters on November 21.

According to the CEC results six parties could clear 7% barrier necessary to secure seats in the Parliament. President Shevardnadze’s bloc For New Georgia and Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s Revival Union lead the election results with 21,3% and 18,84% respectively.

Key opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement received 18,8% support, followed by the Labor Party with 12,4%; the Burjanadze-Democrats – 8,8% and the New Rights – 7,3%. 

As a result, under the party list For New Georgia secured 38 seats in the 235-seat Parliament; Revival Union – 33 seats; National Movement – 32; Labor Party – 20; the Burjanadze-Democrats – 15; the New Rights – 12.

The foreign observers also condemned the November 2 parliamentary elections as fraudulent. The International Election Observation Mission, comprised of the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), concluded that the 2 November parliamentary elections in Georgia fell short of international standards for democratic elections.

The local election watchdog organization International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), which deployed around 2,500 observers throughout Georgia and conducted parallel vote tabulation, also condemned the elections as “totally falsified.” According to the parallel vote tabulation results Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement opposition bloc received most of the votes – 26,6%.

The ISFED submitted to the CEC 1088 page document describing irregularities and violations during and after elections, “however the CEC did not took any of them into consideration,” the ISFED statement issued on November 20 reads. “The November 2 elections do not reflect will of Georgian people,” the statement says.

The opposition leaders said that the official results amounted to “usurpation of power by [President] Shevardnadze.”

“This [election results] has finally convinced me that the election results are being created in Shevardnadze’s office,” Mikheil Saakashvili said on November 20. “This is nothing more than usurpation of power,” he added.

He accused the authorities and President Shevardnadze of dictatorship and called on the population to consolidate to defend their dignity.

“President Shevardnadze became Dictator Shevardnadze. We witness all the signs of dictatorship, repressions, ballot fraud and use of force against people,” Saakashvili said.

The opposition leaders are in western Georgia to organize peaceful march on capital city Tbilisi, particularly on the President’s office to demand Shevardnadze’s resignation. The protesters are expected to arrive in Tbilisi on November 22, when the first session of the new Parliament is scheduled.