The head of Georgia’s Election Commission, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, was attacked with black paint during a meeting on Saturday to certify the results of a controversial parliamentary election. David Kirtadze, a member of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party, threw the paint at Kalandarishvili, causing an eye injury, as seen in videos shared on X.
Kalandarishvili had convened the meeting to confirm the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the October 26 election. However, opposition groups rejected the results, accusing the government of widespread fraud and alleging Russian interference. Following the attack, Kalandarishvili resumed the meeting with a plaster on his eye, ultimately signing a protocol confirming Georgian Dream’s win.
#WATCH | Georgia’s Election Commission Chief was doused in paint as he prepared to confirm the final results of last month’s parliamentary elections.
Giorgi Kalandarishvili was attacked by an opposition party official, David Kirtadze at a meeting of #Georgia‘s election body in… pic.twitter.com/ukcsPT4QUs
— DD News (@DDNewslive) November 17, 2024
The Georgian Dream party, which is aligned with pro-Russian policies, secured 53.9% of the vote, winning 89 out of 150 parliamentary seats. The results have sparked ongoing protests in Tbilisi, with opposition supporters claiming the election was rigged.
Adding to the controversy, two US polling firms suggested that the official results showed significant discrepancies compared to their exit polls conducted for pro-opposition media outlets, further fueling claims of election manipulation.
Opponents of Georgian Dream argue that the party seeks to pull Georgia away from Europe and closer to Russia’s sphere of influence. Meanwhile, Georgian Dream defends its position, saying it aims to protect the country from foreign interference and to avoid the kind of conflict that has embroiled Ukraine.
