Dayton Reporter

Congressmen Mike Turner and Gerry Connolly have expressed concerns regarding the recent parliamentary elections in Georgia. The election, held on October 26th, was reportedly affected by various issues such as vote buying, voter intimidation, misuse of administrative resources, and questionable appointments to election oversight boards.

In a joint statement, Turner and Connolly emphasized that the elections were an opportunity for Georgia to demonstrate its commitment to its Euro-Atlantic path. However, they noted that campaign rhetoric blaming Western nations for Russia's actions in Ukraine and legislation targeting civil society undermined this opportunity. They also highlighted the lack of accountability for violent attacks against political opposition figures as a significant concern.

The congressmen described these actions as authoritarian behaviors that deviate from Georgia's previous status as a vibrant multiparty democracy. They stated that these developments move Georgia further away from joining NATO and the European Union.

Turner and Connolly concluded their statement by reaffirming support from the United States and all NATO countries for the Georgian people and their aspirations towards Euro-Atlantic integration.