Tomorrow, Georgia, where the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party seeks reelection for the fourth time, will hold parliamentary elections. Moscow denies allegations that it is influencing the elections.

In Georgia, a South Caucasus country, voters will go to the polls tomorrow.

The parliamentary elections will pit a government thought to be growing closer to Russia against an opposition advocating integration with the West.

Moscow denies allegations of influencing the elections. The Kremlin stated today, “We are not trying to influence the elections in any way. The West is trying to twist Georgia’s arm.”

The ruling party, Georgian Dream, seeks to return to power for the fourth time. Supporters of the opposition often refer to the ruling party as the “Russian Dream.”

Critics accuse its founder, billionaire former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, of harboring sympathy towards Georgia’s large northern neighbor and former imperial master.

The Georgian Dream party accuses the faction it calls “radical opposition” of being the lawmakers of the former president Mikhail Saakashvili, who was sentenced to six years in prison for abuse of power, and of being supported by Western intelligence agencies.

FOREIGN AGENTS LAW

Georgia was granted candidate status by the European Union last year, but relations have deteriorated rapidly since Georgian Dream adopted the “foreign agents” law in May, with critics saying it is a sign of turning towards Moscow.

Tbilisi’s major Western allies responded by imposing sanctions on senior Georgian officials, withdrawing millions of dollars in aid, and freezing longstanding security and defense dialogues with Tbilisi.

Opinion polls indicate Georgian Dream remains the most popular party in the country, but it has lost ground since winning nearly 50% of the votes and a slim majority in parliament in 2020.