{"id":119473,"date":"2024-10-28T23:11:50","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T16:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119473"},"modified":"2024-10-28T23:11:50","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T16:11:50","slug":"georgias-president-accuses-russia-of-election-meddling-and-urges-the-west-to-back-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119473","title":{"rendered":"Georgia&#8217;s president accuses Russia of election meddling and urges the West to back protests"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>TBILISI, Georgia (AP) \u2014 Georgia\u2019s president on Monday urged the West to support opposition protests after the governing party <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/georgia-russia-election-european-union-8f040cb30e1d9c9e778383cbcbb7b2c1\">was declared the winner<\/a><\/span> of a parliamentary election that she alleged was rigged with the help of Russia.<\/p>\n<p>President Salome Zourabichvili, who refused to recognize the official results, told The Associated Press that the South Caucasus nation has fallen victim to Russian pressure aimed at derailing Georgia\u2019s plans to join the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve seen that Russian propaganda was directly used,\u201d said Zourabichvili, a fierce critic of Georgian Dream, the governing party. She said the government has been \u201cworking hand-in-hand with Russia,\u201d and \u201cprobably\u201d received help from Moscow\u2019s security services.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. and the European Union urged full investigations of the result of Saturday\u2019s election.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGeorgians, like all Europeans, must be masters of their own destiny,\u201d said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday, Zourabichvili stood alongside opposition leaders and urged Georgians to join a rally on the main street of the capital, Tbilisi, on Monday night to protest what she called a \u201ctotal falsification, a total stealing of your votes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Central Election Commission said the Georgian Dream party received 54.8% of the vote with almost all ballots counted. The party \u2014 established by <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/credit-suisse-lawsuit-bidzina-ivanishvili-scandal-22001601f3872f7162b8844add85744f\">Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire<\/a><\/span> who made his fortune in Russia \u2014 has become increasingly authoritarian in the past year, adopting laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/georgia-foreign-influence-law-fc93349dbe8b1429b740f830b3b71d7d\">freedom of speech<\/a><\/span> and <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/georgia-lgbtq-rights-crackdown-election-2cac5aea651c0380d6a2829aa28c4697\">LGBTQ+ rights<\/a><\/span>. <\/p>\n<div class=\"Infobox\" data-module=\"\" data-gtm-region=\"Over 50 countries go to the polls in 2024 The year will test even the most robust democracies. Read more on what's to come here. Take a look at the 25 places where a change in leadership could resonate around the world. Keep track of the latest AP elections coverage from around the world here.\" data-align-center=\"\">\n<div class=\"Infobox-items RichTextBody\">\n<p><b>Over 50 countries go to the polls in 2024<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Protest is the only way Georgians can \u201cexpress that their votes have been stolen, that their future has been stolen,\u201d Zourabichvili told AP in an interview.<\/p>\n<p>She said she hopes the U.S. and EU back the demonstrations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to have the firm support of our European partners, of our American partners,\u201d Zourabichvili said, adding that it was in the interests of \u201ca powerful Europe\u201d to be present in the Caucasus and for the region to be stable.<\/p>\n<p>Asked if she wants sanctions imposed on Georgian officials, Zourabichvili told AP that it\u2019s up to Western leaders but that \u201ccertainly time has not come to to renew relations with authorities that are not legitimate at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Georgia\u2019s political leaders to \u201crespect the rule of law, repeal legislation that undermines fundamental freedoms, address deficiencies in the electoral process, and move Georgia toward its Euro-Atlantic future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He called for a full investigation of all reports of election-related violations, as did EU Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali, who said Georgian Dream\u2019s campaign was \u201cdirectly inspired\u201d by Russian propaganda and there were \u201cunprecedented levels of disinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Kremlin has rejected the accusations of interference.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe aren\u2019t meddling in Georgia\u2019s internal affairs, and we have no intention of meddling,\u201d Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He countered that it was the West that had tried to influence the vote. <\/p>\n<p>Asked about Zourabichvili\u2019s call for the Georgians to join protests, he described it as an attempt to destabilize the country.<\/p>\n<p>Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili, a member of Georgian Dream, accused the president of creating \u201ca coup scenario\u201d that goes \u201cagainst the constitutional order and democratic elections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Georgia\u2019s political system, the presidency is a largely ceremonial post.<\/p>\n<p>The EU suspended Georgia\u2019s membership application process indefinitely because of a Russian-style <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/georgia-foreign-influence-law-fc93349dbe8b1429b740f830b3b71d7d\">\u201cforeign influence law\u201d<\/a><\/span> passed in June. Many Georgians viewed Saturday\u2019s vote as a pivotal referendum on the opportunity to join the EU.<\/p>\n<p>The election campaign in the nation of 3.7 million people, which borders Russia, was marked by a bitter fight for votes and allegations of a smear campaign. European observers said the election took place in a \u201cdivisive\u201d environment marked by intimidation and instances of vote-buying, double voting and physical violence.<\/p>\n<p>During the campaign, Georgian Dream used \u201canti-Western and hostile rhetoric &#8230; promoted Russian misinformation, manipulations, and conspiracy theories,\u201d said Antonio L\u00f3pez-Ist\u00fariz White, head of the European Parliament monitoring delegation.<\/p>\n<p>Election observers said instances of intimidation and other violations were particularly noticeable in rural areas.<\/p>\n<p>Georgian Dream scored its highest share of the vote \u2014 almost 90% \u2014 in the Javakheti region of southern Georgia. In the capital it received no more than 44% in any district. <\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, a member of Georgian Dream, described his party\u2019s success as \u201cimpressive and obvious,\u201d and that \u201cany attempts to talk about election manipulation &#8230; are doomed to failure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Initial figures suggested voter turnout was among the highest since Georgian Dream first won control of parliament in 2012. The party has vowed to continue pushing toward EU accession but also wants to \u201creset\u201d ties with Georgia\u2019s former imperial master, Russia. In 2008, Georgia fought and lost a brief war with Russia, which then recognized the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions and bolstered its military presence there.<\/p>\n<p>European Council President Charles Michel urged Georgian officials to \u201cswiftly, transparently and independently investigate\u201d the electoral irregularities and said Georgian Dream should demonstrate its \u201cfirm commitment\u201d to the EU. <\/p>\n<p>Hungary\u2019s Victor Orb\u00e1n, who was the first foreign leader to congratulate Georgian Dream, arrived Monday on a two-day visit to Georgia.<\/p>\n<p>Zourabichvili said he was a \u201cspecial friend\u201d of Georgian Dream and dismissed his visit as a \u201cpolitical play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Orban does not have \u201cany mandate from the EU Council\u201d to visit Georgia, Massrali said on behalf of the EU. <\/p>\n<h2>___<\/h2>\n<p>Associated Press journalists Sophiko Megrelidze in Tbilisi and Raf Casert in Brussels contributed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script>\n  window.fbAsyncInit = function() {\n      FB.init({\n              appId : '870613919693099',\n          xfbml : true,\n          version : 'v2.9'\n      });\n  };\n  (function(d, s, id){\n     var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n     if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}\n     js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;\n     js.src = \"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\";\n     fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n   }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/georgia-election-russia-european-union-protests-f6667dd64b537bd2082bfc5396f4a955\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TBILISI, Georgia (AP) \u2014 Georgia\u2019s president on Monday urged the West to support opposition protests after the governing party was declared the winner of a parliamentary election that she alleged &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119473\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-119473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-world","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=119473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119473\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=119473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=119473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=119473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}