Georgia’s election administration rejects President’s claims on election fraud

Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has rejected allegations made by President Salome Zourabichvili regarding manipulation in the October 26 parliamentary elections, calling them part of a “disinformation campaign” driven by political interests.

The CEC dismissed claims that the elections were rigged or did not occur, stating that such allegations were “completely unsubstantiated” and politically motivated. “The statements that the elections were rigged or did not take place are completely unsubstantiated and represent a politically motivated disregard for the factual circumstances,” the Commission said in a statement.

The CEC also emphasized that no verified evidence has been presented to support claims of significant violations that could have influenced the election results. “We would like to emphasize once again that there are no confirmed facts and evidence that there were any violations during the parliamentary elections that could have had a significant impact on the final results,” the Commission added.

The CEC expressed disappointment that the President had repeated a narrative from some political actors, which they argue has fueled growing tensions in the country.

“Unfortunately, the President of Georgia repeats the propaganda narrative of certain interested representatives and thereby tries to discredit the elections and, consequently, the election administration,” the statement said. “This contributes to even greater tension in an already polarized environment.”

While acknowledging minor concerns during the election process, the CEC defended the administration of the elections, citing the recent positive assessment from the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission. “It is noteworthy that the election administration administered the October 26 elections at a highly professional level and in full compliance with the legislation,” the Commission said.

The CEC also highlighted its openness to improving the election process, saying it would consider recommendations to enhance the system. “We have expressed our full readiness to consider and, to the extent possible, take into account all recommendations made to ensure the improvement of the election process,” it stated, urging a calm discussion of these issues.

In response to the fraud allegations, the CEC reminded the public that it had initiated a formal request for an investigation into the claims. “After the announcement of the results of the October 26 elections, based on the widespread statements regarding ‘alleged fraud,’ the election administration itself addressed the authorized agency and requested the initiation of an investigation,” the Commission said. “To date, no one has presented any substantial or concrete evidence to support these claims.”

The Commission urged the President and other critics to either provide credible evidence for their allegations or cease spreading unfounded claims. “We once again call on the President and all interested persons making such allegations to present relevant, well-founded evidence or to refrain from spreading unsubstantiated and misleading statements that undermine public trust in the election process,” the CEC stated.

In its closing remarks, the CEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and vowed to respond to any disinformation with factual information. “The election administration remains a firm defender of the standard of transparency and accountability,” the statement concluded. “Any disinformation will be followed by a factual and comprehensive response to ensure that the public is accurately informed about the integrity of the election process.”

The Commission also called for responsible actions from all political stakeholders to preserve trust in Georgia’s democratic institutions. “We call on all stakeholders to act responsibly and contribute to strengthening, not undermining, trust in Georgia’s democratic institutions,” it urged.