spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied any Russian interference in the Georgian parliamentary election this weekend, which saw the ruling pro-Russian .
Pro-EU Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has accused Moscow of meddling in the election, saying it was part of a “Russian special operation.”
What Moscow said about the allegations
“We strongly reject these accusations. There was no intervention. These accusations are completely unsubstantiated,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, when he was asked about Zourabichvili’s claims.
“There are attempts to destabilize the situation in the republic,” he said, referring to the Georgian president’s comments. Peskov instead accused European states of trying to meddle in the vote.
“There are attempts to interfere — but not from Russia’s side,” he said.
EU and US urge probe
Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union called for a thorough investigation into reports of violations in the voting.
The voting results, with almost all precincts counted, were a setback for pro-Western Georgians who had touted Saturday’s election as a choice between the ruling party’s deepening ties with Russia and the opposition’s aim of fast-track integration with Europe.
Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Sunday relayed reports of vote-buying, voter intimidation, and ballot-stuffing that might have influenced the outcome.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement released on Sunday, noted that, while the election was “generally well administered,” there were reports of irregularities and sporadic violence.”International observers have not declared the result to be free and fair,” he said, calling for an investigation.
European Council President Charles Michel authorities in the EU candidate country “to fulfill their duty to swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof.”
“These alleged irregularities must be seriously clarified and addressed,” Michel wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday.
“We reiterate the EU’s call to the Georgian leadership to demonstrate its firm commitment to the country’s EU path,” he wrote.
Germany on Monday noted “significant irregularities” in the weekend election.
“We condemn these violations of international standards and support calls by international election observers for a full investigation into the reported irregularities,” said foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer.
A week after elections in her country, , Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on Monday she had discussed the election with President Salome Zourabichvili.
“Moldova stands with all Georgians fighting for freedom, democracy and a European future,” Sandu said on X following the talks.
rc/wd (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
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