Senator Wicker Statement on Georgia’s Parliamentary Election

WASHINGTON - Following Georgia's election results, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., issued this statement:

"This past Saturday, the people of Georgia went to the polls to exercise their democratic right to choose their next government. Instead of a dignified, transparent, and lawful process, what they got was a farce. The people of Georgia's democratic choice was undermined by rampant violations, including intimidation, violence, vote buying, and results that diverged sharply from credible independent pre-election and exit polling as well as trends from prior elections.

"We share Georgian President Zourabichvili's belief that these elections were neither free nor fair and do not reflect the will of the people. Unfortunately, the Moscow-backed Georgian Dream party seems to think that alongside Russia and its authoritarian axis, they can wait out the United States and Georgia's democratic allies. They are wrong.

"The manipulation of this election is not only a blow to Georgia's fragile democracy but, if allowed to stand, an end to the country's longstanding Euro-Atlantic aspirations-and possibly its very sovereignty. This is electoral fraud, and its illegitimate result must be confronted with clarity and resolve. As long as Georgian Dream clings to power through undemocratic means and under the tutelage of violent authoritarians, they will reap the contempt and isolation they so richly deserve."