Oct 27, V7N- Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream party claimed victory in Saturday's parliamentary election in Georgia, with early results showing a 53% win. However, opposition parties refused to recognize the results, accusing the ruling party of election "falsification" and demanding the results be annulled due to alleged voter intimidation and vote buying. Ivanishvili, a billionaire who previously promoted pro-Western policies but has since adopted a more pro-Russian stance, praised the Georgian people for their support.
 
The opposition, including the United National Movement and Coalition for Change, called the election a pivotal moment for Georgia’s future between closer ties with Europe or a lean towards Russia. Some exit polls reflected strong opposition gains, particularly in the capital, Tbilisi, though Georgian Dream received significant support in rural areas. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, a former ally turned critic of Georgian Dream, also alleged widespread electoral abuse, and election monitors documented multiple irregularities, including ballot-stuffing.
 
The election result, if confirmed, would mark a setback for the European Union’s ambitions to draw Georgia closer and is likely to further complicate Georgia’s relations with the West.
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