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In Georgia, both the ruling party and the opposition claimed victory in Saturday's parliamentary elections. The process is seen as crucial for the country's future, whether the former Soviet republic will continue its path towards the West or lean towards Russia.
Polls conducted immediately after the end of the voting process offered different predictions on the outcome of the elections.
According to a survey conducted by the TV channel 'Imedi' which supports the Georgian Dream, the ruling party has won the elections securing 56% of the votes.
But polls conducted by the pro-opposition channels 'Formula' and 'Mtavari Arkhi' showed that the pro-Western opposition parties had gained a lot of support, together securing 83 seats in the 150-member parliament.
But the four main opposition blocs are deeply divided and it is unclear whether they will be able to cooperate with each other.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the ruling party, claimed victory.
" It is a rare case in the world for the same party to achieve such success in such a difficult situation - this is a good indication of the talent of the Georgian people ," he said just a few minutes after the polls closed.
" I assure you that our country will achieve great success in the next four years ," added Mr. Ivanishvili.
In the past two years, Georgian Dream, in power since 2012, has voiced pro-Russian rhetoric, fueling anger among its Western allies over what they see as increasingly authoritarian tendencies.
Independent observers as well as Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili – a one-time ally of the ruling party who has now become one of its fiercest critics – accused Georgian Dream of massive vote-buying and other forms of election abuse.
The Georgian Dream did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
The opposition claimed victory and said it was on track to win a majority.
" European Georgia is winning with 52% of the votes despite attempts to manipulate the elections and without the votes of the diaspora ," Ms. Zourabichvili wrote on the social network X. / VOA
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