Parliamentary elections in Georgia

Georgia held its parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024, amid a sharp confrontation of the ruling party versus the opposition, the parliament versus the president, and the European way of the country's development versus the pro-Russian one. The elections had a number of peculiarities and novelties related to the amendments made in the Electoral Code. The following report by the "Caucasian Knot" tells about the 2024 election campaign in Georgia.

Protests in Tbilisi streets

On November 16, 2024, the Chairman of the Georgia's Central Election Commission (CEC) signed the final protocol of the parliamentary elections. The CEC sitting was held amid street protests and observers' demands to hold the repeated elections. During the sitting, David Kirtadze, a member of the "Unity-National Movement" Coalition, splashed paint in Kalandrishvili's face; a criminal case was opened. In Tbilisi, the police conducted harsh detentions of three opposition supporters at a protest action against the recognition of the outcomes of the parliamentary elections in Georgia.

On November 17, 2024, the protest action continued. Opposition leaders stated that they would stay in the courtyard of the Tbilisi State University for 24 hours. "We are launching a democratic wave that should wipe the regime off the earth's face," Nika Meliya, the leader of the "Changes" Movement, addressed the citizens who gathered in the Chavchavadze Avenue. According to the opposition leader, the government of the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party should "collapse." Protesters set up tents. The Tbilisi State University suspended classes due to the blocking of the Chavchavadze Avenue.

The protesters stayed outside overnight. Dozens of tents were set up in the Chavchavadze Avenue; they spread coffee, tea and blankets. Bio-toilets with sinks and soap were also installed. The opposition leaders called for the protest to continue, demanding an inquiry into election frauds.

Salome Zurabishvili, the President of Georgia, drafted an appeal to the Constitutional Court in connection with violations of the secrecy of ballot and restrictions on the right to vote. She drew attention to the fact that none of the oppositional parties had recognized the election outcomes, which implied a refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament. Besides, the majority of the society, continuing the protest, and local and foreign observers who conducted the voting monitoring would not recognize the election outcomes.

At night on November 19, 2024, buses with special force agents were spotted in Tbilisi. Early in the morning, authorities began demolishing the tents set up by protesters in Tbilisi. They brought in significant police forces, special troops, water cannons and fire trucks1. Demonstrators were given 15 minutes to clear the roadway, threatening to use special means. After this was not done, law enforcers began dispersing the protest by using force. As a result, several people received traumas; at least 16 people were detained, including activists of the "Strong Georgia" and "For Changes" Coalitions. The police also used force against the media professionals who were performing their professional duties.

In the evening on November 19, 2024, opposition supporters again occupied the territory near the Tbilisi State University (TSU) and set up tents. At night, some students entered the first building of the TSU and declared that they would not leave it until their demand for the resignation of Djaba Samushia, the Rector, was met. A student spokesman stated that "it's unacceptable to close the historic university building to students and teachers, and open it to the police ..."

Early in the morning (around 4:00 a.m. Moscow time) on November 20, 2024, law enforcers again pushed protesters with a tent camp to the neighbouring Melikishvili Street and formed a cordon. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) explained law enforcers' actions by the ban on blocking the traffic. Several dozen activists sat down onto the street roadway.

Later, the protesters in the Melikishvili Street dispersed; and law enforcers also left the area. The opposition explained that the action no longer created discomfort for the authorities. "We decided that now we need to disperse and have some rest, and during the day we will inform you about our further steps," Zurab Djaparidze, one of the leaders of the oppositional "Coalition for Change", has announced.

On November 23, 2024, protesters blocked the traffic in the Heroes' Square in central Tbilisi. The next day, Georgian women held a "women's march" along Tbilisi streets to the residence of Bidzina Ivanishvili. They "symbolically came with suitcases," declaring that the "Georgian Dream" "had led the country to mass emigration.

Before the first session of the parliament of the 11th convocation, which was scheduled for November 25, activists and oppositionists demanding to hold parliamentary re-elections spent the night in front of the legislative (parliament) building. One of the protesters was arrested for attacking a policeman. Law enforcers and equipment were deployed in the Freedom Square in Tbilisi to disperse the demonstrators. At midday local time, Georgian MPs of the 11th convocation began their sitting as part of its first session.

First sittings of new parliament

On November 25, 2024, at its first sitting, the parliament, which was attended by only 88 MPs, recognized the powers of all the 150 elected parliamentarians. A protest continued near the parliament building; the participants thereof set up three tents in the roadway of the Rustaveli Avenue. Opposition leaders stated that their next steps would be defined based on the ruling party's decisions. The blogger of the "Caucasian Knot" BERG...man Tbilisi noted in his post entitled "Reasons for people's absence at today's 'revolution, in Tbilisi" that "within ten days after the release by the CEC of the official outcomes, and on the first day of the parliament work, so few people took to the streets of the 1.5 million Tbilisi that even many of Saakashvili's followers were unable to hide their disappointment."

On November 26, 2024, the parliament scheduled the presidential election for December 14 of this year2. The new president will be elected not by direct vote, but by an electoral college3. The incumbent President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, will continue performing her duties until the inauguration of the new president scheduled for December 29, 2024.

Election outcomes

On October 29, 2024, the CEC of Georgia announced the distribution of seats in the parliament based on the election totals. The "Georgian Dream" Party received 89 mandates; the "Coalition for Change" – 19 mandates; the "Unity-National Movement" Coalition – 16 mandates; the "Strong Georgia" – 14 mandates, and Gakhariya's "For Georgia" – 12 mandates4.

According to the preliminary election totals announced by the CEC, the "Georgian Dream" received 53.056% of the votes, the "Coalition for Change" – 11.177%, the "Unity-National Movement" – 9.852%, the "Strong Georgia" Coalition – 8.998%, and "For Georgia" Party – 8.228%. The remaining election participants were unable to obtain the necessary five percent of the votes needed to enter the parliament5.

The CEC's data differ greatly from the results of the exit polls conducted by the "Edison Research" Company, commissioned by the "Formula" TV, and the "HarrisX" Company, commissioned by the "Mtavari Arkhi" TV, which gave the "Georgian Dream" only 40-42% of the votes. According to the results of the survey conducted by the "Gorbi" Company on the commission of the pro-governmental "Imedi" TV, 56% gave their vote to the ruling party6.

The four oppositional parties that entered the parliament declared that they do not recognize the election outcomes and called for a permanent protest action. The "Unity-National Movement", the "Coalition for Change" and the "Strong Georgia" declared that they refuse from their mandates. The "For Georgia" Party declared that it treated the protection of every vote as a priority.

The constituency election commissions received 337 complaints about violations committed during the voting. There were a number of attacks on journalists covering the voting at polling stations in Tbilisi, Kakheti, Marneuli, Rustavi and other regions of Georgia. At least 25 journalists were injured. Opposition activists and observers were also attacked. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) demanded that the attacks at polling stations be investigated.

Observers have noted that apart from numerous violations that were revealed during the voting, there was an atmosphere of tension in the country on the election day; and a strong polarization of the society was felt.

According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Prime Minister, the parliamentary elections were demonstratively good and even wonderful. He thanked the CEC, the State Security Service, the MIA and personally Gomelauri, the Interior Minister, for all their efforts7.

Salome Zurabishvili, the President of Georgia, has announced a total falsification at the elections. She has noted that "authorities made use of some technologies to whitewash the fraud." The President called on the West "to support the people of Georgia and not to recognize the election outcomes, because they did not take place, they are illegitimate, and nothing can make these elections legitimate."8. Two previous presidents of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili and Giorgi Margvelashvili, also spoke about the falsification of the election outcomes and non-recognition of them.

On November 6, 2024, the court overturned the decision to recount votes at 15 polling stations in the city of Gori; and on November 7, 2024, the decision of the Tbilisi court, which had recognized the violation of the secrecy of the vote, was overturned. In Kutaisi, the court also failed to satisfy any of the claims of the "My Vote" observation mission. The election commissions received more than a thousand complaints about violations, of which 167 complaints were fully or partially satisfied. Opposition leaders have emphasized the need for an international inquiry into election frauds.

Protest rally

On October 28, 2024, the Georgians who disagreed with the election outcomes held a protest rally in central Tbilisi and blocked the Rustaveli Avenue. They demanded that new elections be held under the auspices of the International Electoral Association.

Oppositional activists demanded that the Georgian authorities provide the voter lists within 24 hours. In their opinion, this will show the falsification scale. Thus, Ana Natsvlishvili, an MP from the "Lelo" faction, stated that "one of the black boxes containing irrefutable proofs of election frauds is in the lists that we demand to be made public within 24 hours. If you have nothing to hide, you will make these lists public."9. Giorgi Vashadze, one of the leaders of the "Unity-National Movement" Coalition, emphasized that there will be no negotiations with the ruling party. "The only negotiations and agreement should be on the new elections that will be held by the international administration," he has stated.

Reaction to the outcomes

The US and EU authorities have called on Georgia to reaffirm its commitment to the course towards the Euro-Atlantic integration and conduct a prompt investigation into all the violations committed during the parliamentary elections. This was stated by Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, and Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

On October 29, Swedish authorities announced that they would stop providing Georgia with about 200 million kronor annually (about USD 18.7 million), which financed the public infrastructure and government programmes. At the same time, Swedish authorities announced a new line of assistance in the amount of 25 million kronor (about USD 2.3 million) to support Georgian NGOs10.

Parties that submitted lists

The deadline for submitting party lists for registration expired on September 26, 2024. Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the CEC Chairman, reported that out of 25 registered political associations and electoral entities, 19 had submitted their party lists11.

On November 26, 2024, the Coalitions "Unity-National Movement", "Strong Georgia" and "Coalition for Change" submitted applications to the CEC of Georgia with a request to cancel their electoral lists. On the same day, the CEC cancelled the registration of party lists of the above three oppositional coalitions. The "For Georgia" Party did not submit such an application to the CEC.

Parties and associations that submitted lists were as follows:

The "Our United Georgia", "Labour Party of Georgia", "Tribune", "Georgia", "Gakhariya for Georgia", Georgian Social Democratic Party, "Left Alliance", "Free Georgia", "Change Georgia", "We", "Georgian Unity", "Unity and Development Party of Georgia", "Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia", "Girchi", "Alliance of Patriots of Georgia", "Strong Georgia-Lelo, for the People, for Freedom!", "Unity-National Movement", "Coalition for Change-Gvaramiya, Meliya, Girchi, Droa", and the "European Democrats".

The largest list was presented by the "Georgian Dream" Party, it included 170 names. The "Georgian Dream" believes that they will be able to get a supermajority12.

The "Gakhariya for Georgia" Party published the parliamentary list for 2024. Number one on the list is Giorgi Gakhariya, the Party Chairman13.

The "Unity-National Movement" has published part of its election list; the first 22 candidates are known; the list is headed by Tina Bokuchava, an MP and the chair of the "United National Movement" Party; the positions Nos. 2 and 3 are occupied by the MP Giorgi Vashadze and Sopho Djaparidze14.

The "Coalition for Change" has published the first twenty positions of the list. It is headed by Nana Malashkhiya, who became a symbol of the protests against the law on foreign agents in the spring of 2023. Nos. 2 and 3 on the list are Nika Meliya and Zurab Djaparidze15.

The "Strong Georgia-Lelo, for the People, for Freedom!" presented a list of 26 of its candidates. It is headed by Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of "Lelo". No. 2 is Anna Dolidze, the leader of the "For the People" Party. Badri Djaparidze, a co-founder of the party, is No. 3 on the list16.

Candidates of the "Georgian Dream"

On September 10, 2024, the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party presented the first 20 candidates from the party list for the upcoming elections.

No. 1 on the election list is Bidzina Ivanishvili. He was presented by Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of the "Georgian Dream"celectoral office and the Prime Minister, who is also among the first candidates on the ruling party's election list. Also at the top of the list are Irakli Garibashvili, the Chairman of the "Georgian Dream", and Shalva Papuashvili, the Chairman of the Parliament17.

Ivanishvili's pre-election interview

Five days before the elections, on October 21, 2024, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chairman of the "Georgian Dream" Party, in his long interview with the "Imedi" TV channel, repeated the thesis that external forces – the "global war party" – were preparing Georgia for war18, and stated that Giorgi Gakhariya, a former Prime Minister, was part of this plan. Ivanishvili said that he was very angry with his former comrades-in-arms who left the "Georgian Dream" together with Gakhariya, and intended to "punish" them after winning the elections.

Also, speaking about the opposition, Ivanishvili said that "there are forces [in the opposition] that are very dangerous for the country; and it is dangerous to leave them in politics. This is an evil force, the enemies of the country. There are many precedents for banning political parties in the world. We can recall how the Nuremberg Trials were conducted in Nazi Germany"19.

The politician also mentioned the LGBT propaganda (the movement is recognized as extremist in Russia), calling it a "super-modern conquest weapon" and stated that "all this must be thrown out".

Pre-election rally of the "Georgian Dream"

On October 23, 2024, a rally of the "Georgian Dream" was held in the Freedom Square in Tbilisi. Bidzina Ivanishvili stated that obtaining a constitutional majority for the ruling party "is vital" and outlined the main points of the election programme.

He reiterated the thesis that "the ruling party will ban the 'National Movement' and its satellite parties at the constitutional level, and for the crimes committed against the population of Georgia, including the most serious ones – war crimes, we will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law." Ivanishvili announced his intention to enshrine the issue of protecting the minors' interests and family values at the constitutional level and to strengthen the role of the Orthodox Church20.

Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament, also spoke about the protection of family values at the rally. Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Prime Minister, expressed gratitude to Ivanishvili for returning honour and dignity to the Georgian people in 2012, and added that throughout all these years, Georgia has been moving towards Europe only with honour and dignity.21

The opposition announced the coercion of civil servants and public sector employees from different regions to participate in the pre-election rally of the "Georgian Dream", noting that civil servants should serve the state, and not the interests of the ruling party. Thus, the "Pirveli" TV Company gave examples of how government agencies in the city of Guriya were empty on October 23, 2024, since almost all the servants left for the pre-election rally of the ruling party. However, according to Giorgi Gakhariya, the leader of the "For Georgia" Party the participation of public sector workers in the pro-government rally is not important, what is important is how they vote on October 26.

Registered parties

On September 1, 2024, the CEC of Georgia announced the completion of the registration of political parties for the parliamentary elections. No later than 30 days before the voting day, i.e. by September 26, 2024, each of the 27 registered parties was to submit its list to the CEC Chairperson. The number of candidates on the list should not be less than 30 and more than 200. It was not allowed to include the same person into different party lists22.

The following parties were registered: the "Yes to Europe", "European Georgia-Freedom Movement", "Unity and Development Party of Georgia", "New Unity-Gvaramiya, Meliya", "Unity-National Movement", "European Democrats", "Citizens", "Alliance of Patriots of Georgia", "Strong Georgia-Lelo, for the People, for Freedom", "Labour Party of Georgia", "Our United Georgia", "Social Democratic Party of Georgia", "Third Way", "For Justice", "Change Georgia", "Georgia", "Alliance of Democrats", "Free Georgia", "Tribune", "Free Choice-New Alternative", "Green Party", "Gakhariya-for Georgia", "Left Alliance", "Unity of Georgians", "Girchi", "Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia", and "Ana Dolidze for the People"23.

Later, the parties "Ana Dolidze-for the People" and "Citizens" cancelled their registration at their own request.

Oppositional alliances

In December 2023, Nika Meliya, a former leader of Georgia's largest oppositional party, the "United National Movement (UNM), left the party. Following him, about 300 members left the capital's branch of the UNM, including three city council members. They announced plans to join the Meliya's new oppositional party. In March 2024, Nika Meliya and Nika Gvaramiya, the Director General of the "Mtavari Arkhi" TV channel, founded the oppositional party "Akhali" ("The New"). The Georgian political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent believe that the new party may well secure the support of part of the UNM electorate, but its serious success at the elections is questionable.

In July 2024, two oppositional alliances were created in Georgia. One alliance was created by the UNM with the "Agmashenebeli Strategy" Movement, and also included independent MPs Armaz Akhvlediani and Tamar Kordzaia, Giya Djaparidze, a political analyst, and Lasha Bakradze, a public figure. The alliance will participate in the elections under the name "Unity to Save Georgia".

The second alliance was formed by the parties "Akhali", "Droa" and "Girchi-More Freedom". "We are uniting <...> because we want to send Bidzina Ivanishvili's team home, eliminate Russian influence in Georgia and make Georgia an EU member. It was important for us that, on the one hand, opposition-minded voters had the chance to make a choice, and even more importantly, given the context, that not a single oppositional vote was lost," Nika Meliya has stated24. On July 16, 2024, the new political alliance was registered under the name "New Unity-Gvaramiya, Meliya". On August 4, 2024, the "Akhali Party" was renamed into the "Coalition for Change-Gvaramiya, Meliya, Girchi, Droa!" This was decided at a sitting of the political council of the "Akhali" Party25. Georgian political analysts suggested that both alliances could take away each other's votes at the elections.

On July 17, 2024, three oppositional groups – the "Lelo" Party, Anna Dolidze's "For the People" Party and the newly created "Freedom Square" Movement – announced the joining of their forces ahead of the parliamentary elections. Georgian experts believed that this alliance has a chance to overcome the electoral threshold at the upcoming elections.

Also in July, the creation of the "Choose Europe" Movement was announced, which will campaign for voting against the "Georgian Dream". The movement was created by public figures and political analysts, including Khatuna Lagazidze, a security expert; Lela Djedjelava, a Professor and political analyst; and Giorgi Rukhadze, the founder of the Georgian Centre for Strategic Analysis.

Elections on the way to European Union (EU)

In July 2024, the Georgia's accession process to the EU was suspended; and the EU authorities froze EUR 30 million allocated to support the Georgian defence forces. By adopting the law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence", the Georgian authorities "took a step back on the path to European integration," Pavel Gerchinsky, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, has explained.

On October 4, 2024, Mr Gerchinsky said that in recent months there had not been a single meeting of EU officials with the members of the Georgian Government. According to his story, EU members refused to hold high-level meetings with the Georgian Govt due to the latter's unfriendly attitude towards the EU26. Pavel Gerchinsky added that Georgia will not be able to become an EU member "neither today, nor tomorrow, nor the day after tomorrow" if it becomes a "one-party country", in which "political opposition is prohibited."

On October 8, 2024, the EU Delegation announced that Georgia would not receive EUR 121 million intended to finance governmental projects27.

Rasa Yukneviciene, an EU Member (MEP) said at the debate on Georgia at the European Parliament that the EU Parliament was sending a very clear message to Bidzina Ivanishvili and the "Georgian Dream" that "joining the EU is incompatible with their policies. You cannot be pro-European and pro-Kremlin at the same time; you cannot support the European way of life and glorify Stalin at the same time." The European Parliament will also closely monitor the upcoming elections and demands the release of Mikheil Saakashvili28.

Activists of the Georgian opposition stated that the ruling party's actions, which led to the suspension of contacts with the EU, contradicted the Constitution and Georgian people's aspirations. At the same time, the threat of cancelling the visa-free regime with the EU will affect the lives of many families and is capable of attracting voters to polling stations.

Georgian NGOs announced a march to be held on October 20 under the slogan "Georgia chooses the EU" and called on the country's residents to take part therein.

On October 17, 2024, the European Council confirmed the suspension of Georgia's accession to the EU. The statement of the European Council states that the actions of the Georgian government contradict the European values and principles; and therefore the country's accession process to the EU has effectively stopped. The European Council called on Georgia to adopt "democratic, comprehensive and sustainable reforms in line with the fundamental principles of European integration."29.

March "Georgia chooses the EU"

On October 20, 2024, a march and rally called "Georgia chooses the EU" was held in Tbilisi. It was one of the largest events in the country's recent history – according to Georgian and European sources, tens of thousands of people took part in it.

The march was organized by civil movements, including the NGOs "My Voice for the EU", "Court Supervision", "Georgia's European Orbit", "Kvareli Euroclub", "Democracy Defenders", "Sapari" and the "Civil Movement for Freedom", in response to the suspension of Georgia's accession to the EU due to the government's actions."30. The march was supported by the main oppositional parties and the President of Georgia.

The marchers gathered in six locations: the Republic Square, the Heroes' Square, the Obelisk of 300 Aragvi Residents, the Marjanishvili Square, the intersection of Amagleba and Asatiani Streets, and from the Rustaveli Metro Station, in order to walk in columns from there to the Freedom Square, where the final rally in support of Georgia's accession to the EU was held. The marchers held EU flags, banners with the inscription: "Georgia chooses the EU" and various posters in support of the European integration. The march was accompanied by MIA employees.

The mass action was criticized by the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party. Kakha Kaladze, the Tbilisi Mayor, said that the authorities were implementing a number of progressive reforms, "and no one can stop all of this, neither Zurabishvili nor these marches." According to Kaladze, agents and traitors "want to open the second front in the country," and President Salome Zurabishvili is pursuing the goals "dictated from outside." He also treated oppositionists as "political bankrupts who have no support resources."31

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the "Georgian Dream", wrote in social networks that the marchers had been "brought from all over Georgia" and that "they lost the elections a week before the voting. This has never happened before." Irakli Zarkua, an MP from the "Georgian Dream", said that the marchers "had been misled." "Do you know that next to this 'pride', i.e. next to men with long hair, that is, together with members of the LGBT community (the LGBT movement is recognized as extremist in Russia, – note of the "Caucasian Knot"), are you invited to talk about the development of Georgia and about tomorrow?" Zarkua said, commenting on the report of the "Imedi" TV channel, which was aired with the slogan "Oppositional Pride", emphasizing that "Tbilisi Pride" activists had joined the march.32

Zurabishvili on upcoming elections

After the adoption of the law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" in Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, the Georgian President, invited pro-European political parties to join the Georgian Charter, which is an action plan for the parliamentary elections with the goal of the country's European integration. The offer was addressed to all the parties that are ready to fulfil the obligations set out in the Charter during their work in the next Parliament. The Georgian Charter contains a commitment to carry out democratic reforms after the elections and cancel a number of laws adopted by the "Georgian Dream", including the law on foreign agents. The Charter was signed by most active oppositional parties, including the "Girchi-More Freedom", "Citizens", "Droa", "European Georgia", "European Democrats", "United National Movement", "Lelo", "The New", and "Agmashenebeli Strategy", as well as a number of independent MPs. On September 23, 2024, Giorgi Gakhariya, the leader of the oppositional "For Georgia" Party, signed the Georgian Charter33, but the "Girchi" Party did not sign it.

While signing the decree on the date of the elections, Salome Zurabishvili stated that October 26, 2024, would be "the salvation day of the country's future." "Our current choice is existential; it will define the country's fate for many years." She treated the statements of the leaders of the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party that voters will have to choose between peace and war as a lie34.

The President noted that the elections will in fact be "equivalent" to a referendum on "Europe or Russia". According to her version, the Georgian people must choose what they want – "the past or the progress", "freedom or slavery", "dictatorship or democracy", "one-party power or multi-party power", "dignity or unscrupulousness", "Christian tolerance or Russian violence", "independence or occupation"35.

On October 5, 2024, Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili invited the opposition to submit candidates and form a technical government for the parliamentary elections. Since October 7, 2024, she began meetings with the leaders of Georgian oppositional parties as part of consultations on the composition of the government, as well as on the issue of the candidacy of the Prime Minister. The political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believed that this Zurabishvili's proposal may help the voters, who are not yet ready to choose one of the parties opposing the "Georgian Dream", to decide, and restore relations with Europe and the United States, if the opposition wins the parliamentary elections.

Kobakhidze on future elections

At the end of August 2024, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Premier, announced the creation of a one-party parliament after the elections. He claimed that two parties will enter the parliament – the "Georgian Dream" and the UNM. After the victory of the "Georgian Dream", lawsuits will be prepared to ban oppositional parties. According to his version, the Constitutional Court should decide to cancel the opposition's mandates after the ban of their parties; and he treated the revocation of mandates from their MPs as a "logical continuation".

Kobakhidze named the parties, apart from the UNM, that the "Georgian Dream" was going to ban after winning the elections: the "Akhali", "Girchi", "Droa", "Lelo, and "For Georgia"36. According to his story, banning the parties will not be an obstacle to Georgia's movement towards the EU. The statement about the abolition of the opposition and the creation of a one-party parliament is just pre-election speculation aimed to attract voters, Georgian analysts believed.

Some pre-election practices

In July 2024, the State Security Services (SSS) of Georgia reported that former members of the government, who were in Ukraine, were preparing an assassination attempt on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling party. The investigation, classified as "secret," is being conducted under the articles on preparing a terror act and plotting to overthrow the state power, the SSS then explained. However, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Prime Minister, said that the assassination attempt on Ivanishvili was prepared by the same forces that tried to kill Robert Fico, the Slovakian Prime Minister, and Donald Trump, a former US President. The analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" treated the report about the preparation of an assassination attempt on Bidzina Ivanishvili as an attempt to draw attention to the "Georgian Dream" Party.

In August 2024, the new organization "Emguide" announced plans to help Georgian emigrants register with the consulates and vote at the parliamentary elections. Up to one million Georgian citizens live abroad; many of them are there illegally; and their votes could have a significant impact on the election outcomes. Bachana Shengeliya, one of the founders of the above organization, stated that a specially created website will help migrants to get registered with the consulates in order to participate in the elections, and if necessary, they will organize their transportation to polling stations.

In late August 2024, the press bureau of the Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (known as SVR) stated that the United States was preparing to organize a "Tbilisi Maidan" to prevent the victory of the "Georgian Dream" at the October elections. At the "Tbilisi Maidan", they planned to release "proofs of falsifications" during the voting, announce the non-recognition of the election outcomes and demand a change of power. The SVR believed that as part of the preparation for a colour revolution, "Georgian pro-Western NGOs are recruiting a large number of people to closely monitor the voting process." "Law enforcement bodies will be provoked to violently suppress protests. At the same time, the Americans are working out in advance options for a "merciless" political and economic response to the "excessive" use of force by authorities against "peaceful citizens," the TASS quoted the SVR's statement37.

Oppositional activists believed that this statement was in line with the propaganda of the Georgian Government. The statement by the Russian SVR indicated that Russia is openly joining the electoral process and is very concerned that power in Georgia can be replaced by a democratic coalition, Roman Gotsiridze, an MP from the "Euro-Optimists", told journalists38.

On September 13, 2024, the "Mtavari Arkhi" TV Company was fined by the court for refusing to air a campaign video of the ruling "Georgian Dream-Democratic Movement" Party. The TV Company claimed that the video contained hate speech and discredited a number of public figures depicted in it, but not participating in the elections. One of the advertising videos of the "Georgian Dream" made use of Mikheil Saakashvili's photos, and of the activists defending the interests of the LGBT community, of Ekaterina Gigauri, the head of the NGO "International Transparency-Georgia", Nino Lomdjariya, a former Georgian Ombudsperson, and the slogans: "No to moral degeneration!" and "No to the dark past!"

On September 14, 2024, at a party event held in the city of Gori, Bidzina Ivanishvili stated that after the parliamentary elections, the country's authorities will apologize to South Ossetia for the August 2008 war unleashed by Mikheil Saakashvili. "We will definitely find the strength to apologize for the fact that, in accordance with the assignment, the traitors – the United National Movement – engulfed our Ossetian brothers and sisters in flames," he stated. This statement caused a protest among part of the population, who believed that Ivanishvili had betrayed the country. The experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" agreed that Ivanishvili was pursuing a pro-Russian policy and making statements to please the Kremlin.

On September 30, 2024, the "Imedi" TV Company stopped broadcasting the election advertisement of the "Strong Georgia" Coalition. According to Aleko Elisashvili, a coalition member, the "Imedi" had stopped broadcasting the video, which began with the words "The 'Georgian Dream' failed to fulfil its election promises," since oppositional activists "had failed to prove" this thesis.

The "Alma" Advertising Company refused to place election banners of the "Unity-National Movement" Coalition, This decision was caused by the slogans directed against the "Georgian Dream" and is discrimination, the Coalition stated. The reason for the refusal was in the Coalition's slogans: "Choose unity, get rid of Ivanishvili" and "Choose unity, get rid of the dream".

On October 3, 2024, Shalva Papuashvili, the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, signed the law "On the Protection of Family Values and Minors", which established a state holiday and a day off on the "Family Sanctity Day", on May 17 – the day when the world celebrates the International Day Against Homophobia. Members of the ruling party shamed the opposition for refusing to vote for this law and for using this moment for election campaigning.

The NGO "Georgian Young Lawyers' Association" reported nine cases of violence, property damage, interference in the election campaign, and other violations committed in the period from August 1 to September 25, for which criminal cases had been initiated.

On October 7, 2024, the "Georgian Dream" launched the impeachment procedure against the Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, accusing her of travelling abroad without the government's consent. The party attempted to impeach Zurabishvili on a similar issue in October 2023, but failed to gain enough votes. Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said that the party would file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court before the parliamentary elections, and the issue would be put to a vote at one of the first sessions after the elections. According to his story, the second attempt to impeach Zurabishvili is symbolic, so that she would go down in history not just as a former president, but as a "removed president."

Cases of pressure on voters

On October 15, 2024, the NGO "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy" reported cases of pressure on voters by the ruling "Georgian Dream-Democratic Movement" Party. "For various reasons, activists of the ruling party are asking some voters to temporarily hand over their identity documents to them," the NGO said in its statement. The NGO also noted that pressure was exerted on socially vulnerable population groups, threatening to abolish their social benefits.

Besides, in the organizations financed from the state budget, the bosses instruct their subordinates to compile lists of alleged supporters of the "Georgian Dream". In a number of regions, bribing voters by giving them foodstuffs and gasoline coupons in exchange for votes in favour of the "Georgian Dream", was recorded.

Londa Toloraya, a member of the "My Vote" observation mission, spoke about the illegal collection and use of personal data from socially vulnerable population groups, pressure on voters, and the use of official powers by members of the "Georgian Dream" Party. Anna Tsitlidze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, accused the management of the "Ingur HPP" Company of collecting documents; and the Georgian President, Salome Zurabishvili, announced the collection of personal data in schools.

On October 21, 2024, Georgian oppositionists stated that employees of budget-funded institutions and security agencies were forced to attend the "Georgian Dream" events ahead of the parliamentary elections and were persuaded to vote for the candidates from the ruling party. The spokesman of the "Georgian Dream" treated the reports of document confiscation from voters as unreliable.

Incidents of violation of electoral rights in Georgia were large-scale, said Londa Toloraya, a member of the "My Vote" observation mission. According to her story, in Georgia, observers recorded 1641 cases of voter bribery and 1644 cases of influencing the voters' will, while the investigative service and the prosecutor's office failed to investigate these violations and provide information on them to the public. The observer stated that the "Georgian Dream" Party had voters' personal data, which only governmental agencies possess. "It seems that governmental bodies are transferring voters' data to the ruling party in order to make it easier to manage voters," Ms Toloraya said. Observers demanded an investigation into the crimes related to the Georgian parliamentary elections.

Anti-corruption investigation

On October 15, 2024, a study conducted by NGOs on possible corruption in Georgia was released. The document shows that experts have recorded 206 cases of possible corruption deals involving 201 high-level officials, including 16 judges, 37 MPs, 32 government members, and 61 municipal servants. The study mentioned Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Prime Minister, Kakha Kaladze, the Tbilisi Mayor, Giorgi Mikautadze, the Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court, and other government officials. The authors of the study noted that the situation in Georgia was characterized, on the one hand, by an impressively low level of petty corruption and, at the same time, by almost complete impunity for corruption at the highest level.

The study also revealed a scheme for the government to use the assets of the "Georgian Dream" Party in the regions of Kutaisi, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe and Gori, and a scheme for employing activists of the ruling party in municipal companies and institutions, on which millions of laris from the budget are spent.

Intimidation of researchers

Two days before the elections, the investigative service conducted searches in the "Concentrix" office, as well as in the homes of Sopho Gelava and Eteri Buziashvili, employees of the "Atlantic Council". NGO activists and oppositionists treated the special operations conducted at homes of the researchers fighting Russian disinformation as an undoubted intimidation, as well as an attempt of repressions against them. On the same day, Vakhtang Gomelauri, the head of the Georgian MIA, announced that his ministry had purchased new equipment, weapons and water cannons. 

Assessments of campaigning

The experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" assessed the campaigning before the elections in Georgia as sluggish and passive, while the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party had an advantage in the amount of outdoor advertising and campaigning materials aired by TV Companies. In terms of the number of ads and meetings with voters, the ruling "Georgian Dream-Democratic Movement" Party was the most active in the election campaign, the opposition coalition "Unity for the Salvation of Georgia" was in the second place in terms of activeness, and the "Coalition for Change" was in the third place. At the same time, pre-election debates were held on TV, but members of the ruling party did not participate in the broadcasts of critically minded channels, while oppositionists were not invited to the broadcasts of government-controlled TV Companies, the experts noted.

Election observers

As of September 23, 2024, 26 international organizations had been registered as observers over the parliamentary elections in Georgia. International organizations were able to send up to two observers and an interpreter to any polling station. The registration lasted until October 22.

The list of international observers included, in particular, the International Republican Institute (IRI), the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the US Electoral Assistance Commission, as well as election commissions from a number of countries.39

A six-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), headed by Yulian Bulai (Romania), also arrived in Georgia during the elections to assess the election campaign.

By October 3, 2024, the CEC of Georgia reported the registration of 38 international and 56 NGOs that would monitor the elections.

More than 30 NGOs united in the monitoring mission "My Vote" with the goal of training about 3000 observers to monitor the parliamentary elections in Georgia.

In the run-up to the elections, some of the registered observers refused to work at the polling stations due to pressure on them personally and on their families. This was stated by Nino Dolidze, the head of the ISFED, and Tina Bokuchava, the chairperson of the "Unity-National Movement". At the same time, Shalva Papuishvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, stated that many of the observers registered from NGOs are associated with the opposition and, therefore, their objectivity cannot be relied on.

NGOs deprived of the right to observe

On September 24, 2024, the "Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgia" treated the actions of the organization "International Transparency-Georgia" and the "Choose Europe" Movement as interference in the election campaign. In the opinion of the Bureau, both organizations and their leaders were actively involved in the election campaign and were "subjects with election goals," so the law "On Citizens' Political Associations" should apply to them. The Bureau ordered the directors of both organizations to submit financial reports and information on their bank details.

Earlier, on September 17, 2024, the Tbilisi City Court allowed the "Anti-Corruption Bureau" to obtain information on the bank accounts of members of the public movement "Choose Europe" and its expenses. The analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" noted that in this way authorities were trying to identify the organization's donors.

On September 30, 2024, a Tbilisi court upheld the decision of the "Anti-Corruption Bureau". The NGO "Transparency International-Georgia" lost the opportunity to observe the parliamentary elections, but the NGO staff intended to use their experience to help the election observers united in the "My Vote" mission, said Ekaterina Gigauri, the NGO leader.

On October 1, 2024, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Premier, called on the Bureau to cancel the decision and exclude the "Transparency International-Georgia" from the list of "subjects with a declared election goal." The next day, the "Anti-Corruption Bureau" cancelled its decision.

Voting Abroad

The CEC opened 60 polling stations in 42 countries where Georgian citizens registered with the consulates were able to vote. The CEC decision was made on September 26, 2024. The opposition demanded an increase in the number of polling stations and called the CEC decision a violation of the rights of the Georgian citizens living abroad. The Tbilisi City Court, where oppositionists had appealed, declared inadmissible three lawsuits challenging the CEC refusal to open more polling stations abroad; the appellate court upheld the refusal. Emigrants also reported that many of them could not find them on voter lists.

General data about elections

According to the current Constitution, parliamentary elections are held in Georgia on the last Saturday of October in the year in which the term of the current Parliament expires. The President shall appoint the elections 60 days before the voting day.

The Parliament of Georgia is elected for four years and consists of 150 MPs. A citizen of Georgia aged 25 and over who has lived in the country for at least ten years can run for an MP.

A party that receives more than half of the seats in the Parliament will be able to nominate a candidate for the Prime Minister and single-handedly approve the Government presented by him. If none of the parties receives 50% of the seats, a coalition government should be formed.

With the election of a new Parliament, the powers of the previous one expire. The powers of the President of the country also cease. The new President will not be elected by direct citizens' voting, but by an Electoral College of 300 delegates, which will include the MPs, and representatives of local and regional authorities40. The date of the presidential election is defined by the elected Parliament.

The Georgian parliamentary elections were held on October 26, 2024, the respective decree was signed by the country's President, Salome Zurabishvili, on August 27. On the same day, elections to the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara will be held41.

Innovations in the electoral system

The October 26 parliamentary elections were held for the first time under the proportional system only on party lists. To be elected to the Parliament, a party must overcome the five percent barrier.

Electronic voting

The voting will be electronic. The resolution of the CEC dated February 6, 2023, stated that at the 2024 parliamentary elections, almost 90% of registered voters will vote by using electronic technologies42. At the remaining polling stations, the ballots will be digitized; and electronic versions of the ballots will be posted on the Internet by polling stations. In August 2024, the CEC organized training sessions to educate voters on the electronic voting procedure, which will be used for the first time at the parliamentary elections43.

Election commissions

On March 19, 2024, the Parliament of Georgia upheld the bill, according to which the post of the deputy chairperson, intended for an oppositional representative, was abolished in the CEC. According to the new law, the procedure and quorum for the election of the CEC Chairperson and the so-called professional members were changed44.

In particular, a quorum of 3/5 votes was introduced into the process of electing them. The law provides for a three-stage process for the election of the CEC Chairperson and members thereof. If the Parliament fails to elect any candidate as a result of the vote, the issue is referred to the President for consideration. The President has the right to appoint candidates for five years from among the persons included in the list within a week after receiving thereof45.

According to the oppositional MPs interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot", the amendments to the Electoral Code deprived the opposition of the control over the CEC formation, which increased the ruling party's ability to influence the election outcomes.

Gender quota

In 2020, a gender quota of 25% was introduced for party lists. This meant that at the parliamentary elections until 2028, when forming party lists, at least one woman must be present in every four candidates for the MPs. When forming party lists for the elections starting from 2032, one woman must be present as a candidate for the MPs in every three nominees in party lists.

However, in April 2024, the gender quotas were abolished by the Parliament46. The respective document was sent to the Georgian President for signing; however, Salome Zurabishvili vetoed the proposed amendments to the Electoral Code, explaining her decision by the fact that the bill was against the country's Euro-Atlantic course. In May 2024, Georgian MPs refused to approve Ms Zurabishvili's comments and overrode the President's veto by a majority vote.