Georgia to Conduct Partial Recount Following International Criticism

tbilisi - Georgia's election commission announces partial recount of votes amidst criticism of parliamentary election process.

The election commission in Georgia has decided to conduct a partial recount of votes following criticism on the conduct of last weekend's parliamentary elections. Approximately 14 percent of polling stations nationwide will undergo recounts, as stated by the commission. These recounts will be randomly selected.

Criticism arose both within Georgia and from the West after the Georgian Dream party emerged victorious in the elections. The party, which seeks closer ties with Russia, secured 54 percent of the votes according to official results. However, the pro-European opposition and the country's president in the Caucasus suspect foul play. Thousands of Georgians took to the streets in the capital, Tbilisi, on Monday evening to protest.

The demonstration in the capital proceeded peacefully. President Salome Zurabishvili addressed voters outside the parliament building, claiming that their votes were "stolen." Georgian Dream officials, on the other hand, expressed annoyance at such claims. The parliamentary speaker defended the results and accused Zurabishvili of spreading "disinformation" to destabilize the country.