Same administration, same results: David Kramer questions legitimacy of possible new elections

In a recent statement, David Kramer, director of the George Bush Presidential Center, expressed serious concerns regarding the prospect of holding new elections in Georgia, asserting that if conducted by the same administration, the results would likely remain unchanged. His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the legitimacy of the October 26 election outcomes and the role of international observers.

Kramer questioned whether President Salome Zourabichvili and the opposition would accept the election results, as well as whether the international community would choose to recognize them. He drew parallels to the 2004 electoral crisis in Ukraine, stating, “This is a moment similar to November 2004 for Georgia,” referring to the rejection of disputed election results by international observers at that time.

He emphasized that international observers did not deem the recent elections free and fair, citing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s reference to their findings in his remarks. Kramer stated that merely calling for an investigation is inadequate. He believes the legitimacy of the elections must first be contested before any new elections can be considered.

Kramer has long advocated for individual sanctions against key figures in Georgia’s political sphere, particularly billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party. He remarked, “The most important figure here is Ivanishvili. I believe the US made a mistake by not imposing these sanctions earlier. If they had been implemented in a timely manner, the situation could have been different.”

He also recounted a recent incident where information about potential sanctions against Ivanishvili leaked prematurely, leading the Georgian Dream party to retract its position on transparency measures. “This suggests that the ruling party is genuinely fearful of sanctions,” Kramer noted, highlighting the need for more decisive action from Washington.