Two foreign election observers who spoke to POLITICO on condition of anonymity said they had personally witnessed irregularities in the counting and physical violence at polling stations.
“Reports of irregularities in Georgian elections give rise to grave concern,” said Margus Tsahkna, foreign minister of Estonia in a message posted online. “Closely following the evaluations of international and local observers.”
The opposition will need to present strong evidence of violations if they are to contest results and call for demonstrations, said Kornely Kakachia, head of Georgian Institute of Politics.
“The protest may not gain traction unless opposition presents evidence of violations. If they prove violations were systematic, it will be supported by general public.”
Opposition leaders will meet later on Sunday evening with the pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, who has declared that victory belonged to the opposition “despite attempts to rig elections.” Protests are expected, raising the prospect of a resumption of a long-running demonstration movement that saw police violently crack down on activists on the streets over the summer.
Georgia, which was awarded EU candidate status in December, has seen its application to join the bloc suspended amid warnings of backsliding on human rights. Georgian Dream has introduced a package of Russian-style legislation in recent months that brands Western-funded NGOs and media outlets as “foreign agents” and imposes sweeping restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community.
The United States imposed sanctions on Georgian Dream politicians and police officers it says were responsible for repressions and violence against peaceful protesters in the wake of the introduction of the new laws.