- Clock ticks down on France government nomination
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- Philippines says to acquire US Typhon missile system
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- Police arrest suspect who set woman on fire in New York subway
- China vows 'cooperation' over ship linked to severed Baltic Sea cables
- Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate fears
- Luxury Western goods line Russian stores, three years into sanctions
- Wallace and Gromit return with comic warning about AI dystopia
- Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system
- Afghan bread, the humble centrepiece of every meal
- Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks
- 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
- Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
- Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident
- Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as a top priority
- Daniels throws five TDs as Commanders down Eagles, Lions and Vikings win
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- Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam
- Langers edge Tiger and son Charlie in PNC Championship playoff
- Explosive batsman Jacobs gets New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka series
- Holders PSG edge through on penalties in French Cup
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin to talk gas deliveries
- Daniels throw five TDs as Commanders down Eagles
- Atalanta fight back to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five
- Mancini admits regrets over leaving Italy for Saudi Arabia
- Run machine Ayub shines as Pakistan sweep South Africa
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin
- Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 35
- 'Incredible' Liverpool must stay focused: Slot
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- Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout
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- Liverpool hit Spurs for six, Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth
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- 'Nervous' Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- Pope again condemns 'cruelty' of Israeli strikes on Gaza
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Georgia: Ruling party celebrates election victory
Did the Russian terrorist state have its dirty fingers in the pie and did war criminal Vladimir Putin (72) manage to undermine democracy in Georgia with the help of money and corruption?
The ruling Georgian Dream party has become increasingly authoritarian and has passed laws similar to those used by Russia to clamp down on free speech. After one such law was passed earlier this year, Brussels suspended Georgia's EU accession process.
If the victory of ‘Georgian Dream’ is confirmed, it will be a blow to those Georgians who are hoping for closer integration with Europe and see the election as a choice between the West and Russia.
According to the first official results, with 70% of polling stations counted, which represents the majority of votes cast, the ruling party received 53% of the vote, according to the election commission. The results do not include most of the votes cast by Georgians living abroad.
‘The Georgian people have voted for this country's European future and therefore we will not accept these falsified results published by the Central Election Commission,’ said Tina Bokuchava, leader of the opposition United National Movement.
‘We Vote’, a Georgian coalition of election observers, said the results “do not reflect the will of the Georgian people”, pointing to multiple reports of voter intimidation and vote-buying.
‘We will continue to demand the cancellation of the results,’ it said. Post-election polls showed widely divergent projections for the election: Imedi TV, a TV station supporting “Georgian Dream”, showed the ruling party winning with 56 %. Polls from opposition broadcasters after the election showed the opposition parties making big gains.
Ivanishvili, the reclusive billionaire founder of Georgian Dream and former prime minister, claimed victory and praised the Georgian people. ‘It is a rare case in the world for the same party to achieve such success in such a difficult situation – this is a good indicator of the talent of the Georgian people,’ Ivanishvili told cheering supporters.
The question is, should these election results stand, in which direction will Georgia drift, towards Europe or towards the terrorist state of Russia and its authoritarian dictator and mass murderer Vladimir Putin?