Ruling party MP: MEP, some colleagues “not interested in truth, objectivity” regarding Georgia’s elections

Levan Makhashvili, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday claimed Miriam Lexmann, a member of the European Parliament, and “some of her colleagues” were “not interested in truth or objectivity” regarding the conduct of the last month’s parliamentary elections in the country.

Makharashvili’s comments followed Lexmann’s claim earlier today that the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which issued its conclusion on the vote, was “under the influence of regimes” that were “not interested in free and fair” elections.

They have their own personal political views, and are guided by this narrative. It is clear neither ODIHR’s nor any of their colleagues’ objective assessments are acceptable to them”, he said.

The MP further stressed the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission had been “very explicit” in their assessment of the October vote, noting the elections had been held in a “peaceful and competitive environment and the electoral subjects had the opportunity to run electoral campaigns freely” in their final report.