Another domino falls to Vladimir Putin after Georgia’s tense election

Salome Zourabichvilipresident

They stole your vote and tried to steal your future. But no one has the right to do that, and you will not allow it,

Zourabichvili told the crowd on Monday, who waved EU and Georgian flags

We would like the west to support us more. They should stand by our side and speak out against this vote theft,

Khoperia said

It’s very difficult, but I remain hopeful – otherwise, I wouldn’t be here,

said Tekle Makashvili, a PhD student in Tbilisi

I am here because the government rigged the elections, stealing our voices and our right to choose our future,

said Kato Bochorishvili, a 21-year-old economics student

Georgian Dream has already won,

said Irma Khoperia, a 55-year-old artist

We want the world to know that we chose Europe, not Russia. I just hope the world can hear us,

she said

The election result is a win for Putin, whose goal since he became president of Russia in 1999, has always been to reintegrate former Soviet states back under Russia’s control,

Rebekah Koffler, former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, told Fox News Digital

Did the Russian intelligence services – the GRU and the FSB – have a hand in swaying the election? While there’s no evidence at this time that votes have been manipulated and changed after being cast, influence operations targeting presidential elections is standard for Putin’s playbook. But the way it’s done is through financing, intimidation and agitation. And it’s extremely hard to identify, track and make conclusive analysis about such activities."

Koffler added

Salome Zourabichvilipresident

We've seen that Russian propaganda was directly used, ... we need to have the firm support of our European partners, of our American partners."

She said ... adding,

We condemn these violations of international standards and support calls by international election observers for a full investigation into the reported irregularities,

said foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer

International observers have not declared the result to be free and fair,

he said, calling for an investigation

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

We strongly reject these accusations. There was no intervention. These accusations are completely unsubstantiated,

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, when he was asked about Zourabichvili's claims

Moldova stands with all Georgians fighting for freedom, democracy and a European future,

Sandu said on X following the talks

There are attempts to destabilize the situation in the republic,

he said, referring to the Georgian president's comments

There are attempts to interfere — but not from Russia's side,

he said

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

We strongly reject such accusations - as you know, they have become standard for many countries. At the slightest thing, they immediately accuse Russia of interference. No, that is not true. There was no interference and the accusations are absolutely unfounded,

Peskov said

It is opposition candidates, activists, and facilities that are facing violent attacks,

said Oliker

This represents an important signal for Kremlin policy in the post-Soviet space, which could become a model conflict in the region for the coming years,

Ignatov added

This is a welcome result for Moscow,

Olga Oliker, director, Europe and Central Asia program of the International Crisis Group, told Newsweek in emailed comments

Russia sees the country as a prize in a contest with the EU, which had offered Tbilisi candidacy. This last now seems unlikely to move forward anytime soon,

she said