Kremlin denies influence in Georgia's elections Accuses West of coercion

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, stated that Russia has no influence over the electoral processes in Georgia and Moldova.

He made the remarks during a press briefing, asserting that Russia does not attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of these nations, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

“We do not have the capability to influence the situation or the electoral processes in Moldova and Georgia. The decisions made in Georgia are entirely up to the Georgian people,” Peskov noted.

The spokesperson also expressed concern over what he described as unprecedented Western interference in the electoral process.

“The West is not only trying to coerce Tbilisi but is effectively dictating terms. It is difficult to understand how the proud Georgian people endure these daily ultimatums,” Peskov added, highlighting Russia’s view of Western actions in the region.

The political landscape in Georgia has become increasingly polarised, with opinion polls continuing to present unreliable and contradictory forecasts.

While the ruling Georgian Dream party is framing the vote as a choice between "peace and war", opposition parties see the election as a battle between the West and Russia.

Critics say Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012, has lost the people's trust thanks to the controversial "foreign agents" bill, also known as the "Russian law", which sparked mass protests this year and froze Georgia's EU accession process.

On October 20, Moldova held its presidential elections, with incumbent President Maia Sandu receiving 42.49 per cent of the votes. Her opponent, Alexandru Stoianoglo, garnered 25.95 per cent. As no candidate achieved the required majority of over 50 per cent, a runoff election is scheduled for November 3.

Along with the presidential election, a referendum on EU accession was also conducted. Preliminary results indicate that 50.46 per cent of voters supported constitutional amendments affirming the irreversibility of Moldova's path toward joining the EU, while 49.54 per cent opposed it.

Meanwhile, parliamentary elections in Georgia are set for October 26. This election will be notable for being the first to utilize electronic ballot boxes, which will be installed in 74 per cent of polling stations, enabling nearly 90 per cent of voters to benefit from the technology. In addition to vote-counting devices, voter verification technology will also be implemented to ensure the integrity of the election process.

By Vafa Guliyeva