Chairman Papuashvili Rejects Election-Related Allegations as "Disinformation"
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
In a November 4 briefing, Parliament Chairman Shalva Papuashvili refuted claims of election fraud raised by local CSOs, the opposition, and President Salome Zourabichvili. He dismissed allegations concerning vote secrecy, Georgian Dream's voter mobilization tactics, and unusually high turnout in certain regions, labeling these accusations as "disinformation" and politically motivated.
Papuashvili rejected complaints from the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), an election observer, which argued that thin ballots used in some districts compromised voter secrecy by revealing party choices. The chairman cited other countries-such as Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Moldova-where ballots are similarly semi-transparent. He accused GYLA of exploiting this issue to question the legitimacy of the election and criticized international donors supporting such organizations, alleging that they were enabling "fraudulent conclusions" aimed at undermining Georgian democracy.
Regarding accusations that Georgian Dream illegally mobilized voters and collected their personal data, Papuashvili defended the party's engagement with its supporters, stating that close contact with voters is part of democratic campaigning. He argued that Georgian Dream had adhered to international guidelines for voter outreach, denying any coercion or misuse of personal data.
The chairman also responded to concerns about high voter turnout in regions where Georgian Dream won decisively, crediting this to effective regional campaigning. He criticized the opposition's outreach efforts, emphasizing that strong voter support in these areas was a reflection of Georgian Dream's engagement rather than any irregularity.
Papuashvili concluded by asserting that the election results reflect the will of the Georgian people, accusing the opposition of ignoring public sentiment. He stated, "The Georgian people showed the traitors and people without a homeland the place they deserve," calling on opponents to accept the election outcome.
