Lithuanian president urges probe into georgia election fraud
President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda has called for an independent international investigation following reports of irregularities during parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Oct 28, 2024 | updated: 4:51 PM EDT, October 28, 2024
Gitanas Nausėda expressed concern over numerous reports of possible violations during Saturday's parliamentary elections in Georgia. In response to these reports, the President of Lithuania has called for an independent international investigation. On Monday, Nausėda discussed this topic over the phone with the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili.
"The civil society of Georgia has repeatedly and bravely declared its choice for the future of the country in the European Union. No one has the right to deprive Georgians of their European dream," Nausėda stated, as quoted in a communication from the President's office.
President does not recognize the elections. Protests in Georgia
According to the official results of the parliamentary elections, the ruling party, Georgian Dream, won 89 out of 150 parliamentary seats. On Sunday evening, the pro-Western President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, declared that she does not recognize these results. After a meeting with opposition leaders, she stated that Georgian voters were victims of a "Russian special operation."
As announced by President Zurabishvili yesterday, protests against the official election results began on Monday afternoon. Thousands of people took to the streets of Tbilisi.