Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Tbilisi on Tuesday to congratulate Georgia’s government following a controversial election. He described the election as “free and democratic,” while ignoring the numerous allegations of irregularities that have emerged. Observers from the European Union have expressed concerns, stating that they did not deem the elections to be free or fair, which they found troubling.

Georgia’s pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, has refused to acknowledge the election results, alleging interference from Russian operatives aimed at manipulating the outcome. Orban had extended his congratulations to the ruling Georgian Dream party even prior to the official announcement of the results. During a press briefing after discussions with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Orban criticized his EU counterparts, asserting that their standards of democracy are biased based on political affiliations.

Despite international condemnation regarding the election process from both the United States and EU, which called for an independent inquiry into incidents of violence and intimidation, Orban remained supportive of Georgia’s government. The opposition parties in Georgia claim that the election was “stolen” and that their country is shifting closer to Russian influence. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, emphasized that Georgians deserve a thorough and transparent investigation into electoral discrepancies.

Exit polls conducted by Western media indicated that several opposition parties had actually won the election before official results showed Georgian Dream securing 54% of the vote and a parliamentary majority. Orban arrived in Tbilisi amid protests from thousands of Georgians denouncing the election outcome. Although Hungary currently holds the rotating EU presidency, officials were quick to clarify that Orban was not representing all member states.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto criticized the EU for not recognizing Georgia’s election results but did not address the extensive violations cited by independent monitors. The monitoring group “My Vote” reported numerous abuses leading up to and during voting day, including coercion of public workers to submit identification or face repercussions. They also highlighted instances of “carousel voting,” enabling individuals to cast multiple votes with a single ID.

The Georgian prime minister has rejected claims of widespread electoral fraud and maintains that the elections adhered to legal standards. However, critics argue that the electoral commission is heavily influenced by those in power. Transparency International voiced concerns over potential manipulation within state institutions overseeing elections, indicating a lack of accountability or investigation into these claims.

As tensions escalate regarding Georgia’s political trajectory, various factions continue to dispute both the legitimacy of recent elections and their country’s growing alignment with Russia versus Western integration efforts.