Thanks to newsukraine.rbc.ua
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/massive-fraud-and-fights-erupt-at-georgia-1729942937.html
That must have been… SEVEN ballots at least!
So of course the NDI INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TO GEORGIA’S OCTOBER 26, 2024 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS promptly speaks of “instances of ballot stuffing” (plural). Without providing any references of course. (Media reports are available for the one that is on tape.)
In addition to one observer beat down that resulted in hospitalization.
In additions to several quarrels at polling stations.
In addition to… Ehm…
Throughout election day, reports from citizen observers provided valuable information to support our observation findings. On election day, citizen observers witnessed widespread violations of the neutrality zone around polling stations by gatherings of ruling party figures and unauthorized persons. Our short-term observers and citizen observers also reported intimidation of voters. Citizen observers also reported an increase in critical incidents, including violence against observers, voters and party representatives.
NDI stresses that this statement is preliminary in nature and that the post-election environment continues to unfold.
src: click
So of course this happens:
Blinken: U.S. Condemns Breaches of Int. Norms During Oct.26 Elections, Calls for Investigation
Shortly before this happens:
A day after Georgia’s parliamentary elections, in which the Central Election Commission declared the ruling Georgian Dream party the winner, senior European parliamentarians issued a joint statement with their Canadian counterpart saying “the elections were neither free nor fair” and that “the European Union cannot recognize the result.”
src: click
Wait, so all it takes to call an election fraudulent as Blinken is one instance of 7 ballots being stuffed into a box, several outbreaks of violence at polling stations and several violations of the neutrality zone around polling stations?
Well, not exactly -- the main argument for this election having been stolen are intimidation campaigns weeks and months before the elections, as well as state sponsored intimidation based on fears around cuts in state spending being used to “motivate” voters to vote for the leading party.
Those are all well documented:
“Organized criminal gangs … are trying to undermine the voting process with aggression and intimidation,” opposition politician Ana Natsvlishvili said.
src: click
It is clear that the pre-election period failed to meet fundamental standards for democratic elections. The government’s passage of legislation that labels civic actors as foreign agents and its campaign to intimidate those that criticized ruling party policies generated a climate of fear.
State-sponsored efforts to discredit and legally restrict election observers forced them to divert resources to self-defense from their central activities to safeguard the elections. The legislation also had a chilling effect on advocates, civic educators and other groups contributing to the political discourse. Ruling party leaders also threatened to criminalize opposition political parties. Legislation passed by the government restricted the rights of and stigmatized vulnerable LGBTQI+ communities in contravention to regional and international human rights standards to which Georgia is obliged. Taken together, the government’s actions caused the European Union to halt Georgia’s accession path.
A fragmented, politicized media environment limited voters’ access to impartial information.The ruling party had disproportionate influence on this environment given its control over state media as well as privately held channels.
src: click
But I still found it noteworthy how little it takes in regards to on the day evidence, to call an election stolen.
Cant wait for the demanded investigation into the matter.
edit: That, and the exit poll vary vastly depending on who did them. I have to mention that as well: click
edit2: Electronic voting was in place and badly vetted.
The EETs were used in 2,263 (74.6 percent) of PECs representing approximately 90 percent of voters.
While the CEC’s online portal for rapid results publication enhanced transparency, it was also unclear whether the additional preliminary results transmission component from electronic PECs was tested for heavy user traffic, or whether results information would be made available in an open data format.
src: click
edit3: France24 has additional info:
Opposition parties alleged incidents of ballot stuffing and intimidation during voting, and called the results “fraudulent”.
src: click
So thats the source of the multiple ballot stuffing incidences. Claims by the opposition parties.
Oh, and swissinfo.ch states, that the OSCE sees it more in line with.… ehm, facts.…
However, monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said they had registered incidents of vote-buying, voter intimidation, and ballot-stuffing that could have affected the outcome. But they stopped short of saying the election was rigged.
src: click
