Opposition leader calls for international probe into alleged election fraud in Georgia

Anna Natsvlishvili, a leader with the opposition party Strong Georgia, has urged for an international investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding Georgia’s October 26 election. Recent investigative reporting from Nodar Meladze’s Saturday program on TV Pirveli highlights alleged vote manipulation involving the ruling party’s establishment of “call centers” near polling stations to influence the vote and other potential violations.

Natsvlishvili asserts that Georgian prosecutors lack both the commitment and impartiality to carry out a credible investigation, characterizing the alleged fraud as a “Russian-style operation” that undermines the Georgian people’s democratic will. She argues that an independent, EU-led mission is necessary to thoroughly assess these claims without conflicts of interest.

“The Georgian Dream-controlled prosecutor’s office cannot and will not investigate this. If they had the desire and genuine will to pursue an investigation, they wouldn’t need investigative journalism to prompt them; they would already be taking actions required by Georgian law,” Natsvlishvili stated. “The October 26 election represents a hijacking of the Georgian electorate’s will using Russian-style methods. Therefore, a specialized, international investigative mission is essential.”

Dolidze added that the European Parliament has the capacity and experience to deploy missions swiftly. “The European Parliament can deploy missions composed of legal and technology experts. They could arrive in the coming days if a resolution is passed. We are collaborating with European Parliament members to expedite this decision,” she said.