Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze urged French President Emmanuel Macron to focus on the situation in Ukraine rather than commenting on Georgian internal affairs.
Kobakhidze dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s claims of Russian interference in Georgia’s recent election as false. Macron had alleged that Russia’s actions included destabilizing electoral processes and manipulating ballot boxes during Georgia’s October election, but offered no supporting evidence.
Responding to Macron’s assertion, Kobakhidze stated he would not address what he considered to be lies and prioritized the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the French president should concentrate his attention on the situation in Ukraine, which he described as a nation under attack.
The October 26 parliamentary election resulted in the ruling Georgian Dream party securing 53.93% of the vote and 89 of 150 parliamentary seats.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) acknowledged the election results. While noting a divisive campaign atmosphere and unequal party financing, the OSCE’s head of the Georgian election monitoring mission, Pascal Allizard, highlighted active voter participation, robust observer presence, and a diversity of voices as indicators of a developing democratic system.
Georgia’s four pro-EU opposition parties, exceeding the 5% electoral threshold, contested the election’s fairness, rejected the outcome, and have led protests in Tbilisi, some of which have turned violent. However, these demonstrations have recently diminished in size.