The Georgian prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into whether there was fraud in the last parliamentary elections after a request from the Central Election Commission, Georgian media reported.
The country’s President Salome Zourabichvili was summoned for questioning on Wednesday due to the fact that she may have evidence in the case. The oversight agency said in a statement:
“During the pre-election period and on election day, certain offences were revealed, in connection with which law enforcement agencies are actively investigating several criminal cases. The prosecutor’s office will periodically inform the public about the results of the investigation.”
However, opposition leaders advised Zourabichvili not to go to the prosecutor’s office to give explanations about the election fraud claim. Zurab Japaridze, one of the opposition leaders, told reporters on Wednesday:
“We in the opposition do not intend to go to the Georgian prosecutor’s office as we do not trust it. I think the president will not go to the prosecutor’s office either, but she does not need my advice.”
Meanwhile, Mamuka Mdinaradze, executive secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, advised Zourabichvili to co-operate with the prosecutor’s office, which summoned her on October 31 to explain her claim that parliamentary elections were rigged. Mdinaradze told reporters:
“President Zourabichvili must answer what her accusations are based on. We are ready to open any polling station within the framework of the prosecutor’s office investigation to prove that fair elections were held, and the president and opposition leaders must answer for their accusations.”
Election results and allegations of fraud
Elections in Georgia were held on October 26, won by the ruling Georgian Dream with 53.92% of the vote. Zourabichvili, former head of state Mikheil Saakashvili and the opposition did not recognise the results of the vote and called on citizens to go on protest actions. According to the Georgian president, there was “total falsification” during the elections.
On October 28-29, rallies were held in the country, after which the Georgian Central Election Committee declared “unjustified criticism” and “special attacks” and appealed to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
