Georgia's Election Controversy: Ballot Stuffing Accusations Stir Tensions

In southeastern Georgia, two men have been detained over alleged ballot stuffing during recent parliamentary elections. Disputed results in Marneuli have intensified political tensions, with opposition forces commissioning U.S. pollsters questioning the governing party's victory. The electoral commission maintains the elections were conducted fairly.

A court in Georgia has ordered that two individuals accused of ballot stuffing during the parliamentary election be placed in custody. The incident reportedly occurred in the town of Marneuli, leading to the annulment of results from the affected precinct, as reported by the Interpress news agency.

The election dispute has escalated as Georgian opposition forces have engaged two U.S. polling experts to scrutinize the official results. These figures claimed the governing Georgian Dream party emerged victorious, a claim now under challenge as opposition factions gear up for a new protest.

Election authorities stand by the integrity of the voting process, affirming that the election was both free and fair. The situation remains tense as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the contested election results.

(With inputs from agencies.)