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President Biden has called for an investigation into the recent Georgian elections, which resulted in a political party with alleged ties to Russia gaining power.
Let’s bring you up to speed: In the recent Georgian parliamentary election, the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed a decisive victory with nearly 54% of the vote, while the main opposition coalition received about 38%. Allegations of election rigging soon followed, with Georgian election monitors and international observers reporting widespread irregularities, including voter intimidation, vote-buying, and ballot-stuffing. Georgia’s President, Salome Zourabichvili, who aligns with pro-European values, has claimed that the election was influenced by Russia and has publicly called on citizens to protest.

What Biden is saying: In a statement, President Biden said he was “deeply alarmed” by the election, noting that “Georgian citizens have a right to peacefully express their views regarding the conduct of these elections, which independent international and domestic observers have not said were free and fair.”
He added, “We call on the Georgian government to transparently investigate all election irregularities, to repeal laws such as the so-called “Foreign Influence Law” that limit freedoms of assembly and expression, and to begin an immediate, inclusive dialogue with all political forces in Georgia about restoring election integrity.”
Other countries react: In addition to President Biden, many EU countries have raised similar concerns over the election, urging the Georgian government to launch an investigation. Despite these calls, some notable countries, including Hungary (a NATO member), China, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey (also a NATO member), have recognized the Georgian Dream party’s victory.