Georgian elections saw widespread intimidation and violence, observers conclude

European election observers said Georgia’s elections took place in a “divisive” environment, with widespread intimidation and incidents of physical violence undermining a vote that could decide the country’s future in Europe.

The Central Election Commission said the ruling Georgian Dream party won 54.8% of the vote on Saturday with nearly 100% of the ballots counted. Initial data showed that after a divisive election campaign, turnout was the highest since the ruling party was first elected in 2012.

Observer representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said they had numerous concerns about the conduct of the elections, including vote buying, double voting, physical violence and intimidation.

Georgian Dream used hostile rhetoric and “propagated Russian disinformation” and conspiracy theories ahead of the election in an attempt to “undermine and manipulate the vote,” said Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, head of the European Parliament’s observation delegation.

The holding of elections is evidence pointing to the ruling party’s “backsliding from democracy,” he said.

Georgian election observers, who were stationed throughout the country to monitor the vote, also reported numerous irregularities and said the results “do not correspond to the will of the Georgian people.”

Georgian Dream has become increasingly authoritarian, passing laws similar to those Russia uses to suppress free speech. Brussels has suspended Georgia’s EU membership process indefinitely due to the “Russian law” adopted in June.

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of Georgian Dream who made his fortune in Russia, declared victory almost immediately after the polls closed, saying: “Rarely in the world does the same party achieve such success in such a difficult situation.” Before the elections, he promised to ban opposition parties if his party won.

Tina Bokuchava, chairwoman of the opposition United National Movement party, accused the election commission of carrying out Ivanishvili’s “dirty orders” and said he “stole victory from the Georgian people and thereby stole the European future.”

She noted that the opposition does not recognize the election results and “will fight like never before to regain our European future.”

The UNM party said its headquarters were attacked on Saturday, and Georgian media reported that two people were injured in attacks near polling stations.

The election campaign in the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million people, which borders Russia, was influenced by foreign politics and marked by bitter competition for votes and accusations of a smear campaign.

Some Georgians complained of intimidation and coercion to vote for the ruling party.

Georgian Dream won its largest share of the vote – almost 90% – in the Javakheti region of southern Georgia, 83 miles west of the capital Tbilisi – where it failed to win more than 44% of the vote in any constituency.

Before the election, The Associated Press visited a region where many people are ethnic Armenians who speak Armenian, Russian and limited Georgian. Some voters suggested they were being instructed by local officials on how to vote, while some questioned why Georgia wanted relations with Europe and suggested it would be better off allying with Moscow.

According to polls, about 80% of Georgians favor joining the EU, and the country’s constitution obliges its leaders to seek membership in the bloc and NATO.

Many fear that the Georgian Dream is dragging the country toward authoritarianism and destroying hopes of becoming a member of the EU.