Widespread public distrust and rejection of the results raise questions about the legitimacy of the election outcomes, according to the final report on Georgia's 2024 parliamentary elections published by the International Republican Institute (IRI).

The IRI mission's conclusion states that the process was severely damaged by several factors, which cast significant doubts on the credibility of the election.

The mission urges the Georgian government to consider the problematic issues related to the legitimacy of the government, which arose as a result of the election, as highlighted by civil and international societies.

“The pre-election period and election day were characterized by large-scale violations, which undermined the credibility of the process. Observations revealed a full spectrum of coercive tactics and manipulation of results. These included a deceptive disinformation campaign targeting voter data collection, pressure, surveillance, and violation of ballot secrecy. In addition, dishonest actions on election day included coordinated attempts to surveil voters, coercion, vote-buying, the so-called ‘carousel,’ tampering with the ballot marking procedure, and creating obstacles for local observers. Ineffective electoral dispute resolution mechanisms further exacerbated tensions, which later led to long-term instability. The democratic principle that society must accept election results is essential for the stability and legitimacy of any country's democracy, but for this to happen, trust in institutions and the electoral process is necessary. Widespread public distrust and rejection of the results raise questions about the legitimacy of the election outcomes.

The parliamentary elections revealed a decline in healthy political competition, which risks the monopolization of power by a single party and denies democratic political parties the opportunity to compete on equal terms. The IRI mission’s conclusion states that the process was seriously damaged by several factors, raising significant doubts about the credibility of the election. The mission emphasizes the urgent need for consistent and comprehensive electoral reforms to address the legal, administrative, and institutional weaknesses in the electoral process.

The IRI mission expresses the international community's interest and enthusiasm for holding credible, inclusive, and transparent elections in Georgia. The mission calls on the Georgian government to consider the problematic issues related to the legitimacy of the government, as raised by civil and international societies. In the long term, Georgia must prioritize reforms that will strengthen the independence of the electoral administration, law enforcement agencies, and judiciary; promote media freedom; and create a more inclusive and open political environment. Addressing these challenges is critically important for Georgia’s democratic progress, closer integration with Europe, and ultimately ensuring that elections genuinely reflect the will of the people,” the report concludes.