Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Jim Risch, senior members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have issued a joint statement following Georgia’s recent parliamentary elections, expressing deep concerns over the election’s integrity and calling for an immediate investigation by the US State Department, in coordination with European allies.
In their statement, the senators highlighted reports from international monitoring organizations, including the OSCE/ODIHR, International Republican Institute, National Democratic Institute, and ISFED, which documented severe violations that compromised democratic standards. According to these reports, election day incidents included violence, voter intimidation, and ballot stuffing, raising concerns over the election’s fairness.
“We call on the Department of State, in partnership with our European friends, to immediately investigate reports of fraud and any external interference to determine whether any actions have seriously impacted the outcome of the elections,” stated Shaheen and Risch, stressing that “those responsible should be held accountable.”
The senators also warned Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, of the potential economic and security implications of undermining democratic processes, stressing the importance of protecting the Georgian people’s right to protest peacefully. The joint statement suggested possible revisions to the bipartisan Georgian People’s Act to ensure accountability for any electoral misconduct.
“This is a critical moment for Georgia,” the statement concluded, reaffirming the US Senate’s commitment to supporting Georgia’s democratic aspirations.
