A district court in Georgia has canceled election results from 30 precincts, citing violations of voting secrecy, as reported by RFE/RL’s Georgian service on November 4.
This decision comes amid claims of election fraud.
Georgia’s pro-EU opposition is refusing to accept the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The Tetri Tskaro district court found that voting procedures in precincts across Tetri Tskaro and Tsalka compromised ballot secrecy. Voters marked ballots in a way that allowed their choices to be visible during machine counting. The district election commission also failed to address complaints, suggesting possible interference.
While only a small number of polling stations are affected, the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, which filed the complaint, welcomed the court’s decision as a step toward protecting voting privacy and supporting fair elections.
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The Central Election Commission can appeal this ruling.
Official results reported Georgian Dream with nearly 54% of the vote, but opposition leaders and international observers raised concerns about intimidation, vote-buying, and ballot stuffing.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on October 27 that parliament would approve the government despite opposition protests.
The opposition has asked international leaders not to recognize the results, warning of Georgia’s drift toward closer ties with Moscow.
Earlier this year, the "foreign agents" law, seen by critics as a move against free speech, triggered major protests and police crackdowns.
After the election, the European Commission announced it was pausing Georgia’s EU accession process, highlighting the growing divide between Tbilisi and the West.
