Georgia President Accuses Russia of Election Manipulation

Georgia's President Salome Zourabichvili has called for Western support in opposing the results of the recent parliamentary elections, claiming they were marred by voting irregularities and Russian interference. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, declared victory with 54.8% of the vote, but Zourabichvili rejected these results, accusing the government of colluding with Russia to undermine Georgia's EU aspirations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need for electoral integrity, while EU officials noted the election campaign was influenced by Russian propaganda. The Kremlin denied any meddling, asserting that the West is attempting to destabilize Georgia. Zourabichvili, standing alongside opposition leaders, urged citizens to protest what she termed a