Monitoring coalition accuses election administration leadership of “engagement” in election fraud scheme

Londa Toloraia, a representative of the monitoring coalition My Voice for Europe, on Monday accused the Central Election Commission (CEC) of playing a “significant role” in a “large-scale election fraud scheme” benefiting the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Toloraia highlighted that video evidence indicated “active involvement” from CEC Chairman Giorgi Kalandarishvili, Deputy Chairman Giorgi Sharabidze, and Secretary Giorgi Javakhishvili in making “unlawful decisions”m which she claimed had allowed the GD to “rig” the October 26 vote.

Toloraia pointed out that the CEC compromised ballot secrecy by printing election day ballots on thin paper, which allowed the ruling party to monitor voter choices. She also claimed that the CEC unilaterally altered election procedures several days before the vote, “limiting transparency and enabling potential influence over key election personnel”.