The ruling party claims that the “opposition is planning election manipulation” and accuses ISFED of “concealing” the findings

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, claimed on Friday that there was “systematic manipulation of votes by opposition parties”, while also accusing the local election watchdog, the International Association for Fair Elections and Democracy, of “keeping critical data secret”. Parallel vote tally in Saturday’s general elections.

In a briefing at the party’s Tbilisi office, Mdinaradze criticized ISFED’s “reluctance” to disclose its findings, calling it an “unprecedented action” reminiscent of what he described as the “falsification” of similar data by the organization during the 2020 general elections.

Six days have passed since the election and ISFED still has not published its findings,” the official said, referring to the NGO’s statements. approval His PVT matched the election administration’s official figures, without providing further details.

Mdinaradze also challenged the opposition to provide evidence for its claims of “election rigging”, noting: “Our people endured six days of repression. unproven allegations allegations of fraud and stolen votes”.

The MP pointed out specific cases of votes being “manipulated” by the opposition, contrary to “undocumented allegations”, and claimed his party had “81 confirmed cases” of ruling party supporters being removed from voter lists. Those registered as opposition representatives at polling stations were removed from their residences.

Citing an example, he claimed that voter Nona Nemsadze’s registration was reassigned by the opposition to a remote polling place, a move he said was aimed at “preventing her from voting.”

Mdinaradze also described a second alleged “plan” involving opposition representatives leading mobile voting visits for citizens selected by lottery.

He claimed that when confronted by GM supporters, representatives would “take advantage of citizens’ lack of knowledge of documentary requirements to avoid obtaining the necessary signatures on official documents, which would lead to the exclusion of those votes.”

The official also claimed that the opposition may have offered ruling party voters financial incentives to stay home on election day, but declined to go into details until more evidence was available.

Mdinaradze concluded his remarks by calling on the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office to “thoroughly investigate the cases”, arguing that the GD believes the actions “contain signs of a crime” and that appropriate legal action should be taken if proven.