The EU urged authorities in Georgia "to fulfil their duty to swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof."
It said that "the people of Georgia have demonstrated their attachment to democratic values and their country’s EU path" over the past months.
"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and freedoms of Georgian citizens and runs counter to the values and principles upon which the EU is founded, must be repealed," the European Commission said in a joint statement with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
With nearly all votes counted, the results dealt a blow to pro-Western groups in Georgia, where the ruling party has strengthened ties with Russia, while the opposition seeks to accelerate integration with Europe, the Reuters news agency reported.
Pro-EU President Salome Zourabichvili urged people to take to the streets on Monday to protest the election results.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili casts her ballot in the country's parliamentary elections on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2024. Photo: EPA/DAVID MDZINARISHVILI
The governing Georgian Dream party, which Zourabichvili fiercely criticises, secured nearly 54 percent of the vote, according to the country’s electoral commission.
This result came amid reports from opposition parties and election monitors of significant violations in the electoral process, according to Reuters.
Polish foreign ministry voices 'deep concern'
The Polish foreign ministry has expressed "its deep concern over the conduct of the parliamentary elections in Georgia."
It said in a statement that "the integrity of the elections was questioned" by Zourabichvili and the Georgian opposition.
"Numerous reports confirming violations of elections procedures and the unprecedented scale of administrative resources involved by the ruling party undermine the principle of freedom and equality of the process and the very result of the elections," the statement said.
US calls on Georgia to 'address deficiencies in electoral process'
The United States has joined calls from observers for a probe.
"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," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Sunday.
Earlier this month, the foreign ministers of Poland, France and Germany voiced concern over the rise in aggressive anti-EU rhetoric in Georgia, saying the EU will not tolerate the spread of "false narratives" about European positions and policies by Georgian authorities.
In a joint statement, the three foreign ministers reaffirmed their support for "the democratic and European aspirations of the overwhelming majority of the Georgian people."
They condemned "the actions of the Georgian Government that have led to a de facto halt of Georgia’s accession process to the European Union," noting that "the negative trend has worsened" since the enactment of the so-called "transparency law" in the country.
The top diplomats also criticised "recently adopted legislative amendments that restrict the rights of LGBTI people, as well as attacks against civil-society organisations and independent journalists."
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and his French and German counterparts called on Georgia’s government "to reverse its current course of action," warning that "the scope and depth of EU-Georgia relations and cooperation are at stake."
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters