Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday held a press conference to counter what he termed a “third series” of disinformation from the opposition regarding the integrity of the country’s October 26 general elections.
In his statement, Papuashvili emphasized the need to expose “misleading narratives propagated by a coalition of opposition figures, wealthy individuals, and foreign patrons”.
He pointed to historical parallels, referencing the events of November 3, 2020, “when opposition leaders signed a pledge to boycott parliament, only to later abandon this stance”. “History repeats itself first as tragedy, then as farce,” Papuashvili claimed, asserting that the current situation reflected a “similar farcical nature, with familiar actors and tactics resurfacing”.
Papuashvili addressed three primary issues raised by critics – allegations regarding the secrecy of the vote, concerns about voter mobilization, and accusations surrounding high levels of electoral support for the ruling party.
On the matter of voting secrecy, Papuashvili defended the use of electronic counters, stating that six elections held since 2021 had not seen any complaints regarding the breach of secrecy.
He contrasted Georgia’s practices with those in other countries, such as Poland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania, where he claimed transparency measures do not hinder the confidentiality of votes. He challenged the opposition’s claims, arguing that if Georgia’s elections were deemed problematic, then similar elections in those countries should also be invalidated.
Regarding voter mobilization, Papuashvili criticized the opposition for “mischaracterizing legitimate party efforts to engage their constituents”. He highlighted that all political parties were expected to mobilize their voters, referencing training materials from international organizations that promote best practices in electoral campaigning. He condemned what he described as “fascist campaigns” by certain NGOs “that have targeted individuals involved in voter outreach”, accusing them of “inciting potential attacks against these party representatives”.
Papuashvili also discussed the reasons behind the ruling party’s perceived “high support”. He noted that the GD party’s success in garnering votes was rooted in grassroots engagement, highlighting extensive door-to-door outreach and community involvement by party representatives.
He contrasted this with the opposition’s “lack of visible campaigning” and their “reliance on foreign support”, asserting that the opposition “failed to connect with local voters”.
Papuashvili concluded his remarks by urging foreign donors to be aware of the “impact of their financial support on Georgian democracy”, claiming that “misinformation and political manipulation were “undermining the electoral process”.
