Day: October 29, 2024
On October 28, Global Affairs Canada issued a statement on the parliamentary elections in Georgia, announcing a reassessment of relations and calling for an investigation into the violations identified by international observers on election day. The Government of Canada also calls on the Georgian authorities to respect the rights of peaceful demonstrators and commends Georgians for their active participation in the elections.
“As a friend, partner and longstanding supporter of Georgia, Canada notes the official results of the October 26, 2024, parliamentary election as announced by the country’s central election commission. However, Canada is concerned with widespread acts of voter intimidation, vote buying and other election day irregularities reported by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and other impartial observers. This must be investigated and addressed. Canada strongly believes that free, fair, and independent elections are the cornerstone of a democratic society,” reads the statement.
The statement further notes: “In coordination with our G7 and European partners, and in light of the conduct and results of this election, Canada will reassess its relationship with the Georgian leadership. Canada remains open to cooperation with Georgia, as long as the Georgian leadership respects democracy, human rights, rule of law and addresses the recent democratic backsliding. We call for calm by all parties and for the Georgian authorities to respect the rights and security of individuals in the context of peaceful protests. We commend Georgians for actively participating in the election process, including as voters, polling staff and citizen observers.”
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- 28/10/2024 – Latvian, Lithuanian MFAs Question the ‘Free and Fair’ Nature of Georgian ELections
- 28/10/2024 – Blinken: U.S. Condemns Breaches of Int. Norms During Oct.26 Elections, Calls for Investigation
- 27/10/2024 – NDI, IRI International Observer Mission Preliminary Assessment of Georgian Elections
- 27/10/2024 – International Election Observation Mission Preliminary Findings and Conclusions
At a press briefing on October 28, the U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the U.S. joins international and local observers in calling for a full investigation into reports of election-related violations in Georgia’s October 26 elections. He did not specify that the investigating body should be the Georgian one, but said that the U.S. is consulting with European partners on what might be an appropriate body to conduct such an investigation.
He opened the briefing with the statement on Georgia, saying that “the Georgian people went to the polls on Saturday in an election environment shaped by the ruling party’s policies including misuse of public resources, vote buying and voter intimidation.” He went on to say, “This contributed to an uneven playing field and undermined public and international trust in the possibility of a fair outcome.”
“We join calls from international and local observers for a full investigation of all reports of election-related violations and urge respect for the fundamental freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly,” Spokesperson Miller said.
Furthermore, he encouraged the Georgian authorities “to consider the relationship they want with the Euro-Atlantic community, rather than strengthening policies that are praised by authoritarians.”
He further stressed the will of more than 80 percent of the Georgian people who aspire to the country’s integration into the EU and NATO. The U.S. State Department Spokesperson also emphasized on Georgia’s Constitution, Article 78 of which stipulates Georgia’s integration into the EU and NATO. “All parties campaigned in support of this goal, but the governing party has adopted measures inconsistent with that course,” he said.
“The Georgian government can recommit to its democratic, Euro-Atlantic trajectory by respecting the rule of law, addressing deficiencies in its electoral process, withdrawing and repealing anti-democratic legislation, and undertaking significant effort on outstanding EU accession reform recommendations. We have consistently urged the Georgian government this year to walk back its anti-democratic actions and return to its Euro-Atlantic path. We do not rule of further consequences if the Georgian government’s direction does not change,” he concluded.
Asked by the journalist about the US call for an investigation into the elections, he explained that he did not specify that it should be a Georgian body that would investigate the reports of alleged fraud. “I did not specify that in my statement, that it should be Georgian officials that should conduct that investigation. We are consulting with our European partners about what an appropriate body to conduct such an investigation might be,” Spokesperson Miller said.
Also Read:
- 28/10/2024 – Photo Story | Thousands Denounce Elections Results at Peaceful Rally
- 28/10/2024 – Shaheen, Risch Issue Joint Statement in Response to Georgian Elections
- 28/10/2024 – Georgian Opposition, Observers Collect Evidence to Reveal Alleged Vote Fraud Scheme
- 28/10/2024 – Observer Mission Talks of Main Scheme of Large-Scale Election Fraud, Seeks Annulment of Results from 189 Polling Stations
- 28/10/2024 – Speaker Papuashvili Claims Opposition, CSOs Spread “Election-Related Disinformation”
- 28/10/2024 – Blinken: U.S. Condemns Breaches of Int. Norms During Oct.26 Elections, Calls for Investigation
On October 28, the Swedish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, told the media that the Swedish government had decided to suspend cooperation between the two countries. Sweden is one of the biggest donors of Georgia and its aid has amounted to almost USD 19 million a year. Dousa noted that cooperation could be resumed if Georgia returned to the EU path.
“The development in Georgia has been very alarming for some time. The irregularities reported by international election observers in the weekend’s parliamentary election reinforce this,” said the Minister, adding that “attempts to prevent the country’s civil society from fulfilling its democratic role through, among other things, restrictive legislation are in conflict with EU norms and values.”
He further noted: “Therefore, the government is pausing the direct Swedish-Georgian authority cooperation that is still ongoing, including with Georgia’s tax authority.”
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