Georgian President Won’t Recognize Vote Results, Calls For Protests, Alleges Russian Interference

TBILISI— President Salome Zurabishvili, a pro-Western Georgian who has split from the ruling Georgian Dream party, declared she would not accept the results of the October 26 parliamentary elections and claimed the nation had been the target of a “Russian special operation.”. “”.

In a succinct statement to the media in Tbilisi on October 27, Zurabishvili offered no evidence to support her claim.

“As this state’s sole independent institution, I would like to express my disapproval of this election. You can’t identify it. Georgian subordination to Russia would be equivalent to acknowledging Russia’s arrival here, she said.

“[Russian dominance] is not why I traveled to Georgia. This is not what our ancestors lived for. This will not be accepted. Georgia’s future in Europe cannot be taken away,” she continued.

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She called for protests in the streets to begin at 7 p.m. on October 28. M. in the country of the South Caucasus, where there have been large-scale protests in recent months against the ruling Georgian Dream party, which detractors claim is pro-Russian and has undermined democratic values.

She denounced a “Russian special operation,” describing it as one of the new hybrid warfare tactics used against our nation and its citizens. “”.

The pro-Western opposition protested and election monitors claimed that “critical violations took place,” including voter intimidation and physical violence, while the Georgian Dream party celebrated an apparent victory in the vote.

WATCH: While covering the nation’s important parliamentary elections on October 26, Georgian journalists reported experiencing violence and intimidation.

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Western observers also called for an examination of the purported anomalies.

After counting ballots from over 99.6% of precincts, Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) reported that Georgian Dream received 54.8% of the vote.

But the opposition-commissioned polls showed much lower numbers for Georgian Dream, which is led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Almost every opposition party has rejected the election officials’ declared results.

The vote, which Brussels had stated could decide Georgia’s chances of joining the bloc, was viewed as a critical test of the democratic credentials of the EU candidate nation.

On October 27, officials announced that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a supporter of the Georgian Dream leadership, would be visiting Tbilisi from October 28 to 29.

Following the meetings, Orban, who was the first foreign leader to congratulate Georgian Dream after the parliamentary elections—weighing in before the first official results were announced—will speak with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in a press conference.

On social media, Orban declared that Georgian Dream had won “overwhelmingly” amid the Western world’s worries about the outcome. “.”.

“Election Stolen”.

The opposition pledged to challenge the results, arguing that the early returns were phony, which could result in legal disputes and protests on the streets.

Early on October 27, Tina Bokuchava, the chairwoman of the United National Movement, the organization that spearheads the Unity To Save Georgia coalition, declared that “we do not intend to recognize the outcome of this stolen election.”. “.”.

As early returns arrived late on October 26, Zurabishvili announced on social media that the top four opposition parties had each captured enough votes to create a parliamentary majority.

There were “deeply troubling incidents of violence” at certain polling places, according to Zurabishvili eventually.

Meanwhile, early evaluations by election observers presented a bleak picture of the day of the election.

An uneven playing field, pressure, and tension characterized election day, according to a statement released by a joint observer mission from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe, European Parliament, and NATO. “.”.

WATCH: Pro-Western opposition leaders in Georgia say they will not accept the results of the October 26 parliamentary elections, calling the crucial vote “stolen.”. “.”.

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Despite being well-run overall, the observers noted that there was a “tense environment” and that the unequal playing field “undermines trust in the outcome.”. In a joint statement, the observers concluded that the procedure was “not enough to bring an election in line with international democratic principles.”.

Additionally, the OSCE denounced documented cases of intimidation, physical violence, vote buying, and double voting.

U. S. . “While international and local observers agreed that election day was generally well-administered, we note reports of irregularities and sporadic violence,” stated Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “”.

“International observers have not declared the outcome to be free and fair,” he continued. “”.

As international and local observers have called for a thorough investigation of all reports of election-related violations, we condemn all violations of international norms. “”.

The purported anomalies in the voting process “must be seriously clarified and addressed,” according to EU Council President Charles Michel. “”.

“Serious Infractions.”.

Prior to the election, Georgian Dream “promoted Russian disinformation” and conspiracy theories, and used hostile rhetoric in an effort to “undermine and manipulate the vote,” according to Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, head of the European Parliament monitoring delegation. “”.

The head of the delegation sent by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Romanian lawmaker Iulian Bulai, said at a joint news conference of heads of election-observation missions in Tbilisi, “During our observation, we noted cases of vote buying and double voting before and during elections, especially in rural areas.”.

As one of our observers put it, “the feeling of ‘Big Brother is watching you,’ and the widespread climate of pressure and party-organized intimidation were made possible by the presence of the ruling party’s cameras in the polling stations and the people in front of polling stations tracking and possibly controlling voters,” Bulai said. Additionally, one of the PACE teams’ cars was vandalized while they were observing inside a rural polling station. “.”.

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In its evaluation released on October 27, the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) stated that the elections were tainted by a divisive and constrictive atmosphere that weakened fairness, transparency, and inclusivity.

Smear campaigns against election observers, voter intimidation, violence against opposition politicians, and abuse of election-related administrative resources were among the “critical violations” that the group’s 95 observers reported.

The nongovernmental group Fair Elections (ISFED) stated that voter intimidation was the reason why the vote itself did not pass, but it had not noticed any significant issues with the vote count.

According to ISFED chief Nino Dolidze, “the preelection atmosphere and the facts disclosed on election day had a significant impact on the election and its results.”. Throughout the voting process, numerous troubling occurrences and infractions were noted. “”.

Dreaming in Russia.

In power since 2012, Georgian Dream has shifted its stance toward Russia in the past two years after previously pursuing a pro-Western agenda.

The government’s alleged attempts to restrict democratic rights, such as passing a “foreign influence” bill similar to Russia’s “foreign agent law,” sparked widespread demonstrations in Georgia earlier this year and drew criticism from Brussels.

There was indignation among the opposition because Georgian Dream was about to expand its hold on parliament, even though exit polls showed it would not do well.

Georgian Dream received more than 54 percent of the vote, compared to two opposition exit polls that predicted it would receive no more than 42 percent.

Additionally, the polls predicted that the Coalition for Change, Unity-To Save Georgia, Strong Georgia, and For Georgia, the four opposition parties, would have a definite majority, while the official preliminary results showed that they would only receive 37 percent.

According to the official preliminary results, the four were in a position to surpass the 5 percent threshold and earn seats in parliament.

Following the announcement of official results, the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in the October 26 parliamentary elections. However, the pro-Western opposition rejected the results, claiming they were a “Russian special operation” and a Kremlin “coup.”. “.”.

On October 27, western leaders and organizations also questioned the election process and outcomes, with many voicing concerns about purported irregularities and demanding investigations. However, they were largely circumspect in their statements.

The elections were nevertheless denounced by a few countries, mostly those that border Russia and are constantly on edge about Kremlin interference.

Georgia Dream, a party close to the Kremlin, received 54.8% of the vote, according to official election results, while the opposition as a whole received about 37%.

The opposition-commissioned polls, however, gave Georgian Dream well below 50 percent.

Pro-Western Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who long ago broke with Georgian Dream, and almost all of the opposition declared their disapproval of the results and called for protests in the streets on October 28.

Here are some remarks made by people worldwide.

We note reports of irregularities and intermittent violence, even though both local and international observers concurred that election day was generally well-administered. “”.

“The outcome was not deemed free and fair by international observers. “”.

As international and local observers have called for a thorough investigation of all reports of election-related violations, we condemn all violations of international norms. “.”.

— U. A. State Secretary Antony Blinken.

In general, candidates were allowed to campaign freely, and the competition was fierce but controlled.

However, there have been ongoing reports of voter intimidation, coercion, and pressure, particularly against public sector workers and those who are economically disadvantaged. This raises questions about some voters’ freedom to freely form their opinions and cast their ballots without fear, which is in violation of OSCE commitments and international standards. “..”.

— OSCE International Election Observation Mission—Georgia Report.

“A divisive campaign in a polarized atmosphere, an uneven level playing field, and serious concerns about the impact of recent legislative amendments on this election process are all reported by election observers.

We urge Georgia’s Central Election Commission and other pertinent authorities to carry out their mandate to look into and decide on claims of electoral irregularities in a timely, open, and independent manner. It is necessary to address and clarify those irregularities. Rebuilding confidence in the electoral process requires taking that step. “.”.

— A joint statement from the European Commission and Josep Borrell, the head of EU foreign policy.

“We take note of the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary assessment and urge the Central Election Commission and other pertinent authorities to carry out their mandate to independently, promptly, and transparently investigate and decide on any claims of electoral irregularities.

“There is a serious need to address and clarify these alleged irregularities. “.”.

The next steps in our relations with Georgia will be determined at the European Council meeting in Budapest in November. “.”.

Charles Michel, the European Council’s president.

It has been declared by Georgia’s president that the parliamentary elections were rigged. The Georgian people now need the support of Europe. “.”.

Radek Sikorski, the Polish Foreign Minister.

“Several anomalies and infractions are confirmed by the OSCE reports on the Georgian elections. What a shame. I commend the [Georgians] for voting in large numbers in spite of intimidation. Any Georgian government must respect their desire for a European future. “..”.

The former assistant secretary-general for public diplomacy at NATO, Baiba Braze, is the foreign minister of Latvia.

“There is serious concern over reports of irregularities in the Georgian elections. closely adhering to the assessments of both local and foreign observers. “.

• Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s foreign minister.

Regarding the election’s outcome, we have seen assertions and rebuttals, including justifiable reservations about the election’s overall fairness.

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), the main domestic observer group, is currently completing the comprehensive report of its parallel vote tabulation, which we strongly encourage everyone to consider.

“It is evident that the preelection period did not adhere to basic standards for democratic elections, even though the 2024 parliamentary elections in Georgia saw higher turnout than the previous two, indicating Georgians’ dedication to the democratic process.

“The fairness of the process was seriously compromised by voter intimidation reported by observers both before and on election day, legislation that targeted civil society, and state-sponsored attempts to discredit election observers.”. “.”.

— Washington, D.C.’s nonpartisan NDI. -based watchdog for democracy.

Georgia’s elections were conducted in a divisive and constrictive setting that weakened fairness, transparency, and inclusivity, seriously jeopardizing the democratic integrity of the electoral process. “.”.

“ENEMO raised concerns about the independence and impartiality of the CEC, despite the fact that the election administration handled the process professionally and effectively overall. The election’s democratic integrity was seriously jeopardized by the combined effect of these issues. “.

The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) is headquartered in Montenegro.

Several countries, including Russia and Hungary, praised Georgian Dream’s win and frequently charged the West with meddling.

“The Georgian people made their choice clear in spite of attempts at meddling: the patriotic, family-friendly ruling party won the election handily.

“We’ll do everything in our power to support our Georgian friends in their endeavors to integrate into Europe, both during and after our remaining [EU] presidency. “.

The foreign minister of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto.

“The Georgians won! Excellent work. “,”.

The chief editor of Sputnik and RT, news organizations funded by the Kremlin, is Margarita Simonyan.

The impact of Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran on October 26 should not be overstated or understated, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has cautioned.

In a speech to the relatives of Iranian military officers slain in the assault on October 27, Khamenei called the strikes an Israeli “miscalculation.”.

He did not, however, demand an Iranian response that would prolong the string of tit-for-tat attacks between the two arch-enemies, even though he urged government officials to “understand the capability” Iran possessed.

Regarding Israel, which claimed to have executed “targeted and precise” strikes on military installations, he remarked, “Of course, they are exaggerating.”.

Iran cannot simply claim that “it was nothing, it didn’t matter,” Khamenei added, adding that “exaggerating them is wrong, but minimizing them is also wrong.”. “.”.

Following the airstrikes, which were retaliation for Iranian rocket strikes earlier this month, Tehran has asked Switzerland, which has the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, to convene an extraordinary session to denounce Israel.

Iranian officials acknowledged that four Iranian military officers were killed in the attacks, but they also maintained that the majority of the projectiles fired by Israel were intercepted by Iranian defenses.

Contrary to what some had anticipated, the strikes did not target Iranian nuclear or oil production facilities.

U. S. . On October 26, President Joe Biden expressed concern that the tit-for-tat attacks between the two fierce rivals might spark a larger Middle East conflict while simultaneously defending Israel’s right to self-defense.

After Iran launched about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, many government officials and international observers said they expected Israel to retaliate, causing Iran to be on edge for several weeks.

Tehran said the strikes were a response to an earlier Israeli attack that was part of military operations against Iran-allied groups, primarily Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

The current war in the Gaza Strip was started by Hamas, which the US and EU have designated as a terrorist organization. On October 7, 2023, Hamas fighters entered Israel and killed about 1,200 people. They captured 251 Israeli hostages as well.

Hamas-led Palestinian officials say the Israeli retaliatory war has killed over 40,000 people and left Gaza in ruins.

Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets and drones into Israel and has threatened to keep up the attacks until the fighting in Gaza is halted.

The EU blacklists Hezbollah’s armed wing but exempts its political party, while the US designates the group as a terrorist organization. The Lebanese parliament has seats occupied by Hezbollah’s political party.

Since late September, Israel’s airstrikes have destroyed the majority of Hezbollah’s leadership.

Since Israel launched a missile strike against Iran early on October 26, the UN Security Council has agreed to convene an emergency session at Tehran’s request.

The meeting will be held on October 28 at Tehran’s request and with support from Russia, China, and Algeria, according to the Swiss mission, which serves as the council’s rotating presidency.

In response to the airstrikes, which were a follow-up to Iranian rocket strikes earlier this month, Tehran requested earlier on October 27 that the council convene an extraordinary session to denounce Israel.

Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, wrote to the Security Council, claiming that Israel’s “unlawful and aggressive actions” violated Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and were a “flagrant breach of international law and the UN Charter.”. “.”.

Four Iranian military officers were killed in the attacks, according to Iravani and other Tehran leaders, who have maintained that Iranian defenses stopped the majority of Israel’s projectiles.

Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, denounced Iran’s comments, accusing Tehran of “attacking us diplomatically with the absurd allegation that Israel has broken international law.”. “.

“As we have repeatedly stated, we have the right and obligation to defend ourselves and will employ every available tool to safeguard the people of Israel,” Danon said.

In retaliation for past Iranian attacks on Israel, Israel launched what it described as a “targeted and precise” attack on Iran early on October 26. Israel claimed that it did not hit any nuclear or oil production areas, only military targets.

U. S. Israel informed Washington of the move in advance, and President Joe Biden defended Israel’s right to self-defense on October 26. However, he also voiced concerns that the tit-for-tat attacks between the two fierce rivals might spark a larger conflict in the Middle East.

The letter urged the Security Council to “take a firm stance and condemn the Israeli regime for committing these acts of aggression strongly and unequivocally.”. “.”.

Iravani went on to say that Iran is asking the Security Council president to “call an urgent meeting to address this serious violation and unlawful actions and ensure accountability of this criminal regime in the future.”. “.”.

Since Israel’s closest ally, the United States, is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and has the ability to veto resolutions, it is almost a given that the council would not denounce Israel’s actions.

Ten additional nations alternately serve on the council in addition to the permanent members Russia, China, Britain, and France.

For weeks, Iran had been on edge, with many Iranian government officials and international observers predicting that Israel would retaliate. Tehran claimed that its attacks were retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack.

The attacks were a part of Israel’s recent campaign against groups that are allied with Iran, primarily Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

The current war was started by Hamas, which the US and the EU have classified as a terrorist organization, when its fighters entered Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people. Additionally, about 251 hostages were returned to the Gaza Strip.

According to Palestinian officials led by Hamas, Israeli retaliation has destroyed Gaza and killed over 40,000 people.

Hezbollah has attacked Israel with thousands of rockets and drones, threatening to keep up the attack until the fighting in Gaza is halted.

The United States has classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, and the European Union has placed its armed wing on a blacklist, but not its political party. There are seats for Hezbollah’s political party in the Lebanese parliament.

Since late September, Israel’s airstrikes have destroyed the majority of Hezbollah’s leadership.

with Reuters and AFP reporting.

TBILISI — Preliminary results of the country’s October 26 elections indicate that the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party will continue to control the parliament, but the dramatic disparity in exit polls led to accusations of a “stolen election” from the pro-Western opposition.

After more than 99 percent of districts were counted, Georgian Dream, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, got just over 54 percent of the vote. On October 27, the Central Election Commission released preliminary results, which showed that four opposition parties were in a position to surpass the 5 percent threshold and win seats in parliament.

Together, the Coalition for Change, Unity-To Save Georgia, Strong Georgia, and For Georgia, the opposition parties, garnered slightly more than 37 percent of the vote.

Exit polls conducted on behalf of pro-government and opposition groups produced substantially different results, which fueled protests by the opposition in the wake of the vote.

WATCH: Georgia’s pro-Western opposition leaders say the crucial vote was “stolen” and they will not accept the results of the October 26 parliamentary elections. “.”.

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The pro-government Imedi TV exit poll gave Georgian Dream 56 percent, but the two opposition exit polls gave it less than 42 percent.

On October 27, the final results should be revealed.

The preliminary findings indicate that Georgian Dream would control 89 seats in the 150-member legislature, which would be sufficient to keep its government in place but insufficient to grant it an absolute majority that would permit it to enact significant constitutional amendments.

The Unity-To-Save Georgia coalition’s leader, the United National Movement, promptly denounced the election results announced by Georgia’s electoral authorities.

“We declare on behalf of the United National Movement that we do not acknowledge the results of this rigged election, and we do not plan to accept the results of this rigged election,” Tina Bokuchava, the party’s chairwoman, stated early on October 27.

“Big protests” are expected later in the day, she said, calling on the other opposition parties to stand up against the reported results as well.

The opposition won the election, according to Strong Georgia leader Mamuka Khazaradze, who said it is important for the Caucasus country’s future in Europe.

He congratulated the Russian government on its defeat in Georgia after the polls closed.

Using the term “coup d’etat,” Nika Gvaramia, a member of the Coalition for Change, stated that his organization would not accept the posted result. “,”.

With a paper backup, Georgia’s new electronic ballot-counting system was used for the first time, enabling results to be declared just a few hours after polls closed at 8 p.m. M. local time. . There were only minor issues, according to the election commission.

Following “minor technical defects,” the vote was held “in a calm environment” at all 3,111 polling places, commission spokeswoman Natia Yoseliani had earlier told the media.

According to the commission, the turnout was close to 59 percent, the highest since Georgian Dream took office in 2012.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, a Georgian Dream member, cautioned the opposition that any “illegal” actions “will be met with a very harsh reaction from the state,” possibly in an attempt to quell street protests. “.

Despite attempts to rig elections and without diaspora votes, opposition parties in “European Georgia” are “winning with 52 percent,” according to President Salome Zurabishvili, who has split from the ruling party and backed antigovernment protest movements. “.”.

But after the Imedi TV exit poll was released, Ivanishvili, the former prime minister who started Georgian Dream, congratulated supporters.

He stated, “It is uncommon for any party anywhere in the world to achieve such success in such a difficult situation.”. “I promise you that over the next four years, our nation will see tremendous success. We’ll accomplish a lot in four years, and Georgia will rank among the world’s most prosperous nations in four more. “,”.

Three decades after the country’s independence from Moscow, the vote was viewed as a turning point.

Georgian Dream claimed that if the opposition won, Georgia would be forced into another conflict with Russia, portraying the elections as a choice between peace and war. In August 2008, a brief conflict between the two nations solidified Russian dominance over a portion of Georgia’s territory.

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The opposition framed the vote as a choice between the West and Russia and between democracy and authoritarianism, a narrative echoed by officials in the United States and Europe, who have been critical of Georgian Dream for democratic backsliding.

Tensions were high in the run-up to the vote, with Georgian Dream claiming the West was interfering in the election and the opposition accusing Russia of spreading disinformation.

Street Violence.

Scuffles and accusations of fraud surfaced during the vote.

An RFE/RL correspondent reported an incident in the southern city of Marneuli, where a member of an opposition party in a voting station was allegedly beaten up by a Georgian Dream representative amid reports of ballot-stuffing.

In Rustavi, a city some 20 kilometers southeast of Tbilisi, RFE/RL correspondent Davit Mchedlidze was verbally abused and prevented from doing his job at a polling station by unidentified individuals who attempted to take his phone away.

A witness told RFE/RL that the unidentified persons were on the territory of the precinct, in violation of the law. Although the police were called, none arrived, the witness told RFE/RL.

Observers for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) who monitored the election will hold a press conference on October 27 to present their take on the fairness of the vote.

The Young Lawyers Association, a nongovernmental organization, said it observed “significant violations” of the electoral process, including physical violence, threats of violence, interference with the work of polling observers, and the violation of vote secrecy.

The group said its observers recorded about 300 “instances of irregularities. ”.

Russian Reaction.

Georgian Dream was founded by Ivanishvili, Georgia’s richest man, who made his fortune in Russia.

After casting his ballot, Ivanishvili urged Georgians to show up and vote in large numbers, while accusing the opposition of being in the service of an unnamed “foreign state” that would drag Georgia into a war against Russia.

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“We have a very simple choice: either we elect a government that will serve you, the people of Georgia, Georgian society, take care of the country, or we elect an agent of a foreign state that will only follow orders from abroad,” Ivanishvili said, adding that Georgia would then be faced with “catastrophe and ruins. “.

The Kremlin has made no secret that it prefers a victory by Georgian Dream.

Margarita Simonyan, the chief editor of the Kremlin-funded news agencies RT and Sputnik, cheered the election results.

“Georgians won! Well done,” she wrote in a tweet, implying Western interference.

Opinion polls show that Georgians are broadly supportive of joining the EU and NATO but are also keen to avoid conflict with Russia and are deeply conservative on issues such as LGBT rights.

Georgian Dream has passed a number of contentious bills, one of which requires organizations that get at least 20% of their funding from overseas to register as “foreign agents.”. “.”.

Its opponents called it the “Russian law,” characterizing it as authoritarian and based on similar laws that were used in Russia to suppress dissent.

The United States threatened to stop aiding Tbilisi and imposed sanctions on a number of Georgians after the legislation’s passage earlier this year sparked widespread protests.

If the elections are “not free and fair,” the EU may think about temporarily ending its visa-free policy with Georgia, the bloc’s ambassador to Tbilisi stated in September.

The rights of gay people have been restricted by other contentious laws.

This referendum pits immoral propaganda against traditional values, and war against peace. Following the vote, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared, “This is a referendum between the nation’s dark past and a bright future.”.

opposition organizations.

Parties or coalitions must receive at least 5 percent to be elected to parliament, according to a new electoral rule implemented before the vote. That motivated Georgia’s opposition parties to form coalitions that have a better chance of making it over that threshold.

The four main opposition groups directed their fire at the ruling party rather than each other, having had the common goal of ending 12 years of rule by Georgian Dream and reviving Georgia’s stalled bid to join the European Union.

They had agreed that in the case of an opposition victory, they would allow Zurabishvili to form a technocratic government that would restore good relations with the West and repeal the most authoritarian laws that Georgian Dream passed in the run-up to the campaign.

Zurabishvili, whose role is largely ceremonial, has been at odds with Georgian Dream.

U. S. President Joe Biden expressed hope Israeli air strikes on Iran would bring an end to the current chapter of escalation in the Middle East, even as Hezbollah fired dozens of projectiles into northern Israel.

Israel launched what it described as a “targeted and precise” attack on Iran overnight in retaliation for Iranian attacks on Israel earlier this month, according to the military. Tehran reported that four Iranian soldiers had been killed in the bombing.

Iran has been on edge for several weeks, with many government officials and observers around the globe saying they expected Israel to hit back. Tehran said its strikes were retaliation for an earlier attack by Israel.

The Biden administration had been concerned that Israel might target Iranian oil facilities or its nuclear facilities.

Iran’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports but a strike on energy facilities could have triggered a spike in global oil prices ahead of the U. S. election, where inflation is a key issue.

“Looks like they didn’t hit anything but military targets,” Biden told reporters on October 26, adding that Israel had informed him prior to the strikes. “I hope this is the end. “.

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Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group backed by Iran, condemned the attack and fired more than 200 projectiles at Israel.

Israel said fragments from 30 rockets damaged buildings and cars in one northern town but that no one was killed.

Missile Facilities Targeted.

The Israeli military said it targeted manufacturing facilities making missiles used to attack Israel over the last year.

Israeli warplanes also hit “surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian aerial capabilities, that were intended to restrict Israel’s aerial freedom of operation in Iran. “.”.

Earlier, the IDF said the attack was launched “in response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the state of Israel. “,”.

“Israel has been under constant attack from the Iranian regime and its regional proxies since October 7 on a number of fronts, including direct attacks from Iranian territory,” the statement continued.

Iran acknowledged that the Israeli attack had killed four of its soldiers and that military installations in the area around Tehran, the nation’s capital, as well as other areas had been targeted. The strikes, it said, caused “limited damage.”. “.

After a brief disruption, Iran was resuming flights as usual, according to the semiofficial news agency Tasnim.

On October 26, Iran’s financial and currency markets saw increases after the government claimed that the strikes had only caused minor damage.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran not to respond to the Israeli strikes.

“On the question of the strikes, I think we need to be really clear that Israel does have the right to defend itself, but we are urging — and have been urging all sides — to show restraint. And that is why I am very clear today: Iran should not be responding to this,” Starmer said in Samoa, where he is attending a Commonwealth summit.

White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said Washington was advised of the strikes ahead of time, calling them “an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic-missile attack against Israel on October 1. “.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, about the strikes.

Austin reiterated that the United States was committed to Israel’s security.

Israel has a right to defend itself, though Washington was determined to prevent the conflict from expanding, Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Around the same time, an Israeli air strike targeted some military sites in Syria’s central and southern parts, according to the Syrian state SANA news agency.

Concerns have been growing that Iran and the United States would be drawn into a regional war amid Israel’s intensifying assault in Lebanon on Hezbollah — a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

The air strikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon have been accompanied by a ground operation.

Hezbollah — designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its political party — has supported another Iran-backed group, Hamas, which has been the target of a withering assault by Israel over the past year.

Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, triggered the current war when its fighters crossed into Israel on October 7, 2023, and killed some 1,200 people. They also took around 251 hostages back to the Gaza Strip.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on October 25 that the European path and advocacy for a European Serbia are of “crucial importance for progress” and the country will work to stay on that path.

Vucic was speaking at a joint news conference in Belgrade after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was in Serbia as part of a trip this week to the Western Balkans to assure countries hoping to become EU members that enlargement remains a priority for the bloc.

Vucic said von der Leyen asked Serbia for “much greater compliance with the EU’s foreign policy declarations” during their meeting.

Serbia has close ties to Russia and has refused to join international sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. However, Vucic declined Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan this week.

After meeting with von der Leyen, Vucic repeated several times that Serbia was on a European path, but also said that it will maintain traditionally good relations with other countries.

Von der Leyen said her presence in Belgrade was testament to the EU’s wish to see Serbia become a member.

“What I see is that the president of the Republic of Serbia is hosting me here today and just has hosted the prime minister of Greece and the prime minister of Poland. That speaks for itself, I think,” von der Leyen said at the joint press conference.

She noted that it was her fourth trip to Serbia since taking office, calling that “a very clear sign that I believe that Serbia’s future is in the European Union. “.

Vucic said it was possible that the next chapter in Serbia’s accession talks could be opened by the end of the year, saying this would be “a significant signal that Serbia is progressing on the European path. “.

Von der Leyen also raised the possibility of Serbia becoming a “leader in the field of electric vehicles” in a reference to controversial plans to begin mining lithium in western Serbia.

“It is the industry of tomorrow and we are here to support you every step of the way. We estimate that our great partnership in the field of critical raw materials will bring 20,000 jobs to Serbia and 6 billion euros to Serbia’s gross domestic product,” she said.

British-Australian mining company Rio Tinto plans to create Europe’s biggest lithium mine in Serbia’s Jadar Valley, which could provide about one-fifth of the needs for Europe’s electric-vehicle production, but the plans to open the mine have been met with opposition, largely on environmental grounds.

Von der Leyen said that the people of Serbia can be sure that the project will “respect and preserve nature” in Serbia and that mining operators will “always listen and cooperate with local communities. “.

Her meeting with Vucic took place in the Palace of Serbia, where several dozen activists opposed to the lithium-mining project gathered across the street. They blew whistles and held banners saying, “Serbia is not for sale” and “Ursula, we believe in Europe, but Serbia is not a colony. “.

“We have a complete violation of European values, the rule of law, democracy, and environmental standards. The EU is effectively betraying Europe itself,” said Savo Manojlovic, campaign director of the Go-Change (Kreni-Promeni) movement that opposes the mine.

Von der Leyen arrived in Belgrade from Sarajevo on a four-day tour of the Western Balkans to discuss the European Union Growth Plan, an effort worth 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion) to double the region’s economy over the next decade and accelerate Balkan countries’ efforts to join the bloc.

From Serbia, von der Leyen will travel to Kosovo and Montenegro.

With reporting by AP.

U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned of an urgent need to reach a diplomatic resolution to the war in Gaza and Lebanon as the UN refugee agency raised concerns over Israeli air strikes, saying they endangered those fleeing the war.

Speaking before a meeting in London with Arab leaders on October 25, Blinken stressed the need to end the conflict on a day when Israeli strikes killed 38 people in Gaza and three journalists in Lebanon.

“We have a sense of real urgency in getting to a diplomatic resolution and the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, such that there can be real security along the border between Israel and Lebanon,” Blinken said, referring to a resolution in place following the last major Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.

Israel has pledged to neutralize Iran-backed Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States the European Union, since last October when Hamas militants crossed into Israel and killed some 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

The conflict has since spread to Lebanon, where fighters from Hezbollah, a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, have launched almost daily attacks on Israel in support of Hamas, another Tehran-backed group.

Lebanese authorites say more than 2,500 people have been killed in the fighting in the country, while more than 1.2 million have been displaced, sparking a humanitarian crisis.

Israel’s weekslong aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Lebanon began by targeting Hezbollah’s leadership and military capabilities.

But it has recently expanded its targets to civilian infrastructure — including banks — affiliated with Hezbollah, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its political party.

Blinken said on October 24 that Israel had accomplished its objective of “effectively dismantling” Hamas as he pushed the two sides to renew negotiations to reach a truce.

Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes pounded southern Lebanon, with the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) saying targets near the border with Syria included areas that the IDF claims the group uses to smuggle weapons into Lebanon.

Rula Amin, the spokeswoman for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), said the strikes were threatening the lives of many not involved in the conflict, given that some 430,000 people have crossed to Syria since the war started.

“The attacks on the border crossings are a major concern,” Amin said.

“They are blocking the path to safety for people fleeing conflict. “.

A knife-wielding teenager has killed a police officer and wounded a second one in a town in western Bosnia-Herzegovina, authorities reported on October 25, in what the Interior Ministry called “an act of terrorism. “.

The attack by a 14-year-old boy occurred at a police station in Bosanska Krupa, a town of some 14,000 people, late on October 24, the ministry’s office in the Una-Sana Canton told RFE/RL.

The wounded police officer was in stable condition in hospital, authorities said.

There had been no threats addressed to local police in Una-Sana and authorities had no prior knowledge of an imminent attack on the Bosanska Krupa police station, police and prosecutors said at a joint press conference on October 25 in the city of Bihac.

The minor who carried out the attack at around 9 p. m. local time was not previously known to the authorities.

“This attack on a public institution was an act of terrorism meant to frighten the public,” Merima Mesanovic, the chief prosecutor of Una-Sana, told the news conference.

Authorities neither confirmed nor denied local media reports alleging the suspect, whose identity was not revealed because of his age, is a religious extremist. They gave no further information because the investigation is still ongoing.

Mesanovic said the suspect’s home had been searched and some items had been taken in connection with the probe. His motive remains unknown.

Mesanovic added that the penalty for murder ranges from at least 10 years in prison up to life imprisonment but, as the suspect is a minor, he may only be sent to reformatory for a five-year period, if he is convicted.

Cantonal police chief Amel Kozlica said the security level in the city and its surroundings has been raised, with armed police patrolling the streets.

The attack left people in the small town in a state of shock.

“We really don’t understand what his reason was. It’s terrible what’s happening among children, social networks probably had an influence, TikTok in particular,” local resident Amra Kajtezovic told RFE/RL, describing the whole event as “terrible for such a small place where everyone knows each other. “.

There have been prior attacks on police in Bosnia.

In June 2010, in Bugojno, in the central part of the country, one officer was killed, and six were wounded in an attack on a police station.

In April 2015, in Zvornik, in eastern Bosnia, an attacker killed one police officer and wounded two before being shot dead in turn.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that Russia intends to deploy troops from North Korea in combat areas as early as October 27.

He also called for “tangible” international pressure on the two countries to get them to respect UN legislation.

Ukraine Invasion: News and Analysis.

RFE/RL’s Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia’s invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL’s coverage of the war, click here.

Ukraine’s military intelligence service said on October 24 that it had detected the presence of North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region, where the first units arrived on October 23.

Ukrainian forces staged a major incursion in August in Kursk, a Russian region bordering Ukraine, and are holding territory there.

Kyiv says this territory is being used as a buffer zone against Russian strikes on Ukraine.

According to intelligence, Zelenskiy said on X on October 25, “the first North Korean soldiers are expected to be deployed by Russia to combat zones as early as October 27-28. He called the move “a clear escalation by Russia. “.

“The world can clearly see Russia’s true intentions: to continue the war,” he said. “This is why a principled and strong response from global leaders is essential. “.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said it’s possible that there are now more than 3,000 troops from North Korea that have been dispatched to Russia for training.

Kirby said on a call with reporters on October 25 that it was possible that some of the North Korean troops would be deployed to the Kursk region but cautioned that he did not know for what purpose.

The top national-security advisers for the United States, Japan, and South Korea had met, Kirby said, adding that they “expressed grave concern” about the possible deployment of North Korean troops on the battlefield against Ukraine.

The three advisers called on Russia and North Korea “to cease these actions that only serve to expand the security implications of Russia’s brutal and illegal war beyond Europe and into the Indo-Pacific,” Kirby said.

U. S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on October 23 that evidence of North Korea sending troops to Russia was the “next step” after Pyongyang provided Moscow with arms.

Analysts are still assessing the situation, Austin said, but Pyongyang, which has denied the accusations, could face consequences for aiding Russia directly.

Asked about whether any North Korean troops were in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin neither confirmed nor denied the claim.

When asked about satellite photos of troops at a news conference after a summit in Russia’s Kazan, Putin said, “images are a serious thing, if there are images, then they reflect something. “.

With reporting by AP.

Moldovan police have accused convicted fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor of transferring $39 million into the bank accounts of thousands of Moldovans over the past two months allegedly to buy votes for the pro-Russian camp in a referendum and the first round of presidential elections last week.

Investigators said on October 25 that they uncovered about 1 million bank transfers, which reached the personal accounts of Moldovan citizens in September and October through the Russian bank Promsvyazbank (PSB), Moldovan police chief Viorel Cernauteanu told a news conference in Chisinau.

He added that some 500 people had already been fined for “passive electoral corruption,” without clarifying what that means. No direct evidence of vote buying has been released, but under Moldovan law, it is illegal to accept large sums of money from abroad for political purposes.

Shor, who also holds Russian and Israeli citizenship, was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison by a Moldovan court in April 2023 over a $1 billion bank fraud. He is believed to be in Russia.

Despite expectations of a landslide “yes,” the October 20 referendum on Moldova’s integration into the European Union only passed by a razor-thin margin of less than 1 percentage point, prompting accusations from pro-EU President Maia Sandu of massive vote buying and disinformation orchestrated by criminal groups backed by “foreign forces. “.

The referendum was held simultaneously with a presidential vote, won by incumbent Sandu with some 42.5 percent of the vote — less than the 50 percent plus one vote needed to avoid a runoff.

She will face pro-Moscow ex-Prosecutor-General Alexandr Stoianoglo in a crucial runoff on November 3.

On October 21, Sandu indicated that the stronger-than-expected showing of the pro-Moscow camp in both elections was due to what she said was an “unprecedented” assault from “criminal groups,” which she said tried to buy off as many as 300,000 votes with tens of millions of euros in an attempt to “undermine the democratic process. “.

Russia has denied any interference, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling on Sandu to “produce proof” to back up her accusations.

Cernauteanu said police investigators and prosecutors had established that the disbursement of the funds started in April at the latest.

He said that money from Russia came either through PSB bank transfers or via couriers who pay people directly.

However, Shor is believed to have established a network of trusted people in Moldova to whom he has been sending funds ostensibly for various social activities.

The police investigation found that, in September, PSB bank, which has been under international sanctions for its support of Russia’s war in Ukraine, sent $15 million followed by a further $24 million this month.

Cernauteanu said investigators had established the identities of some 138,000 Moldovan citizens in whose bank accounts the money ended up.

The real number of those allegedly bribed by Shor, however, “is even higher” than the 300,000 mentioned by Sandu, because transfers made to one account were then shared between more people, he said.

Cernauteanu warned that those accepting money from Shor would be considered part of his “criminal organization” and urged Moldovans to cooperate with the authorities.

The investigation is still under way, Cernauteanu said, adding that on October 23 police searched 19 Moldovan districts and found envelopes with cash inside.

Cernauteanu said investigators were looking into instances of potential vote buying for the crucial presidential runoff on November 3. They had declined over the previous two weeks amid concerns over escalation.