Georgian President to file complaint over alleged parliamentary election violations

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Monday announced she would file a complaint to the Constitutional Court of the country on Tuesday on alleged violations of the secrecy of ballot and universality of voting during the parliamentary elections held last month.

Speaking at a briefing, Zourabichvili said despite her “lack of faith in the independence of Georgian institutions”, the filing of the complaint was “necessary to ensure no legal dispute goes unchallenged”, adding the action was intended “to test the conscience of the judges who will face stand before their own choice”.

I would like to present my own summary of the election results, as the President elected by the people and the only remaining independent institution, to which, probably, the Central Election Commission will have no claims”, she said.

She noted neither herself nor a “single opposition party” or observer and non-governmental organisations had recognised the “legitimacy of the Parliament elected in this way” in the vote, adding a “very large part of public does not recognise these elections and continues its fair protests”, in reference to ongoing public protests in capital Tbilisi, where participants have erected over 20 tents and blocked key locations, including the central Chavchavadze Avenue.

Zourabichvili claimed the elections had “failed”, while also noting “none of Georgia’s main democratic partners” had recognised its results, claiming the country was “facing an economic and financial crisis”. She added she would “not allow this situation” as the President.

The country is facing serious threats - one such threat is destabilisation, which may lead to a dual Government and deepening polarisation, which, as we see everyday, is facilitated by the organised propaganda of the extremely aggressive Government and its supporters. Political instability may also lead to external destabilisation due to external factors”, she said.

The danger of such destabilisation increases when a country chooses isolation instead of close relations with partners, which characterises the current Government. At the same time, an economic and financial crisis, which, according to all parameters, is at our doorstep”, she added.

The President called for a “unified effort to find a way out of this seemingly inevitable, deep and dangerous crisis”, adding “even the current Government should recognise the solution as the only stable and peaceful way out of this current situation”.