“Don’t Follow Belarus's Path”: Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry Comments Georgian Elections

The facts established by international observers should be investigated in order to ensure legitimacy and avoid a political crisis, says the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's comment on the results of the parliamentary elections in Georgia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Ukraine closely followed the parliamentary elections in Georgia and noted that the methods of influencing the results of voting there are considered inherent to the Russian authorities.

It is emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine supports the conclusions of the international OSCE/ODIHR  mission which observed the parliamentary elections in Georgia, and recorded numerous violations.

Ukraine called on the Georgian people to keep following the path of freedom.

“We call on the Georgian government not to follow Belarus’s path to the loss of sovereignty and independence,” the Ministry’s statement said.

“Bribery, intimidation, coercion and pressure on voters, lack of transparency of voting, restriction of access of opposition parties to the mass media, this is only an incomplete list of violations that will be remembered for these elections,” the Ministry wrote. “Under any circumstances, Ukraine will support the Georgian people in their desire to continue the strategic course of joining the EU and NATO.”

Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on October 26. According to the official data of the Central Committee of Georgia, the ruling "Georgian Dream" received 53.93% of the votes.

On October 28, thousands gathered outside the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, protesting alleged manipulation in recent parliamentary elections. The rally, led by opposition leaders and supported by President Salome Zourabichvili, highlights deep national discontent over the election results that declared the ruling party, “Georgian Dream” as the winner.