The ISW Briefing Room: Episode 45

The Republic of Georgia’s October 26 elections were marred by widespread voting irregularities that benefited the ruling, pro-Russian Georgian Dream party. While the party ostensibly won 54 percent of the seats in the national legislature, the Georgian opposition and international observers are contesting the results and noting systematic violations of the election process – including double voting, voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, vote-buying, attacks on opposition members and offices, among other irregularities. Davit Gasparyan details the state of democracy in Georgia, its long-standing aspirations to join the West, and how the Kremlin is hoping to leverage a Georgian Dream victory to advance Russia’s strategic goals in the region.

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