Parliament Committee Chair: President's “baseless” election fraud claims “jeopardise Georgia's EU integration”

Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Integration Committee, on Thursday alleged President Salome Zourabichvili’s “baseless allegations” of electoral manipulation in Saturday’s parliamentary vote were  “jeopardising” Georgia's progress toward European Union integration.

In her press comments, Botchorishvili said holding “free and fair elections” was among the European Commission's nine requirements for opening accession talks with Georgia, following last year's decision to grant the country the membership candidate status.

Any campaign aimed at undermining the elections directly impedes Georgia’s EU path. Those driving such a campaign against Georgia's European future should clarify the basis of their claims. If there is validity to these accusations, relevant authorities must conduct a thorough investigation”, Botchorishvili noted. 

The MP further said it was “unfortunate” that the President “appears to be acting against Georgia’s national interests and undermining the very state she represents”.

She disregards state institutions and the Constitution. This is evident to our public and increasingly clear to the international community. The United States has now called upon her to either cooperate with investigations to support her allegations or allow us to determine what is fact and what is fiction,” Botchorishvili added.

The Georgian Prosecutor General’s office this week launched an investigation into claims of “rigged elections”, following the request of the country’s Central Election Commission, which has labelled the allegations “baseless”.