Protests in Georgia against stolen elections continue. On Monday, November 11, in the evening, the “We Are Europe!” protest rally gathered in Tbilisi once again, with participants believing that the October 26 parliamentary elections were rigged. The main difference between the action and previous rallies was massive participation of European politicians. Heads of foreign relations committees of parliaments of Germany, Finland, Sweden, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland came to support Georgians in defending their choice.
During his speech, Polish Sejm Deputy Michal Kaminski drew analogies to 2008, when Georgians were able to defend their independence, and expressed hope that this time the people would unite and not allow their choice to be stolen. “For all those who want to steal your elections, who want to steal your votes, who want to steal your freedom, we can repeat the famous words of Ukrainian soldiers: “Russian warship…” This is our answer to Putin! This is our answer to Russia! We will win! Georgia will be in Europe!” he said.
Michael Roth, Head of Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee, called for a comprehensive investigation into manipulation of votes.
The Georgian authorities have officially launched an investigation, but no one believes in objectivity of its findings. An eloquent example of an ‘honest investigation’ by the authorities was the decision of Tbilisi Court of Appeal, which overturned the decision of Tetri-Tskaro court to annul the results of all polling stations where voting took place using electronic technology. This violated the secrecy of the vote at 30 polling stations.
The European MPs confirmed by their presence that Georgians are not alone in their struggle for the country’s future. “Fight for your freedom, fight for your democracy, fight for your country, fight for your membership in the EU and NATO… There is no Russian dream, there is a European dream, and you are part of this Europe!” said Žygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuanian MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs.
The essence of the protest was clearly conveyed by Greta Thunberg, Swedish environmental activist, who also came to the parliament building with her associates to attend the pro-European opposition rally. “Georgia deserves fair and democratic elections. It’s as simple as that,” she said.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also believes that Georgia is entering a deep political crisis, which can be overcome through new parliamentary elections, and Europe will help it. “New elections are necessary for Georgia to have a legitimate parliament, a legitimate government and a legitimate president when the time comes,” said Zurabishvili.
Georgian emigration is not giving up either. Tamaz Somkhishvili, influential representative of the Georgian diaspora and British philanthropist, said that the West has finally woken up and heard the Georgian opposition. And this scared the official authorities. Representatives of the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party, which won 54% of the vote, refused to cooperate and meet with EU representatives. And the ruling party’s Secretary General and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze went even further, calling MEPs “ordinary pests.”
In his turn, Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, tried to accuse the EU of interfering in the Georgian elections and stated that “the denial of democracy by European politicians ultimately undermines credibility and authority of the European Union.” And this is despite the fact that, according to a poll by the International Republican Institute (IRI) Sociological Research Center, a record 89% of Georgian citizens support EU membership. And only draconian laws such as introduction of the foreign agents institute, adopted by the Georgian Dream MPs on instructions from the Kremlin, are reversing this process.
Somkhishvili said that it seems that the occupation government of Bidzina Ivanishvili has no instructions from the Kremlin on what to do if Europe does not swallow falsification of the people’s will, as it did last time. This is why he is unwilling to meet with strong opponents. So far, the Georgian authorities have been habitually ‘tightening the screws’, only worsening their situation. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has been notable for threatening to ban opposition parties that do not recognize the results of the October 26 election. “Victory is close. We need to increase pressure”.
Indeed, the landing of European MPs gives hope that this time, EU leaders will go beyond “expressing deep concern” to recognize the elections as fraudulent and invalid and increase pressure on the pro-Russian Georgian authorities to hold a second parliamentary vote with increased monitoring and prevention of violations.
Everyone remembers successful precedents. In 2004, Ukrainians, with the support of the democratic world, defended their choice and prevented the pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych from coming to power through fraud and fraudulent means. Georgians also deserve a chance to get rid of Russia’s suffocating embrace and find a chance for a European future.
There are freedom-loving people in Sakartvelo. European support has given strength to the civil protest. It is time for the Russian interim rulers in power to draw conclusions and start packing their bags. Georgia was, is and will be an independent European state, not a Russian colony.
