The U.S. and EU are calling for a full investigation into Georgia's contested election, as President Zourabichvili urges protests over results that strengthen ties with Russia.
The United States and the European Union have called for a comprehensive investigation into reported election violations in Georgia, where the president urged protests following a contested parliamentary vote on Monday.
With nearly all precincts reporting, the results marked a setback for pro-Western Georgians, who had framed the election as a choice between the ruling party, known for strengthening ties with Russia, and an opposition committed to accelerating European integration.
President Salome Zourabichvili urged citizens to protest Saturday's parliamentary election results, which the electoral commission claimed were won by the ruling Georgian Dream party with nearly 54% of the vote. Opposition groups disputed the outcome, citing significant irregularities reported by monitors.
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States supports calls from observers for a full investigation, saying, “Going forward, we encourage Georgia's political leaders to respect the rule of law, repeal legislation that undermines fundamental freedoms, and address deficiencies in the electoral process together.”
The European Union had earlier urged Georgia to conduct a prompt and transparent inquiry into the reported voting irregularities, asserting in a joint statement with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, “The EU recalls that any legislation that undermines the fundamental rights and freedoms of Georgian citizens and runs counter to the values and principles upon which the EU is founded, must be repealed.”
Zourabichvili, once aligned with Georgian Dream and elected president in 2018 as an independent, urged Georgians to assemble in central Tbilisi on Monday evening to demonstrate to the world their refusal to accept the election results.
The election results present a potential setback for the EU’s goal of expanding to include more former Soviet countries.
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A series of signals from Washington, including congressional testimony, a U.S. Embassy statement and a senior diplomat's visit to Tbilisi, has given Georgia's ruling party reason to declare a diplomatic reset. But Washington's message is more nuanced than Tbilisi is suggesting.
Georgian and American law enforcement agencies have dismantled two criminal groups that charged hundreds of Georgians to build fabricated asylum cases for entry into the United States. The arrests came on the same day Washington signalled it was ready to reset relations with Tbilisi.
A launch ceremony marking the commissioning of the modernised Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line was held at Akhalkalaki station in Georgia on 2 June, bringing together senior officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Georgia for resisting Western pressure (30 May), defending its national interests and pursuing a "multi-vector foreign policy" - language that closely mirrors the rhetoric of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with around 600 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births.
In a workshop surrounded by the wreckage of war, workers in Gaza are giving a second life to small leisure boats once used for family outings and swimming trips.
A seven-month-old Palestinian baby has been killed and his parents injured after Israeli forces fired at a vehicle in Hebron, Palestinian health officials say.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
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