Vote results in South Caucasus nation of Georgia suggest manipulation, say two US pollsters

FILE PHOTO: Supporters of Georgia's opposition parties hold a rally to protest and dispute the result of a recent parliamentary election won by the ruling Georgian Dream party, in Tbilisi, Georgia October 28, 2024. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze/File Photo

TBILISI (Reuters) -Two U.S. pollsters commissioned by Georgian opposition forces called into question official results that showed the governing Georgian Dream party won last weekend's parliamentary election in the South Caucasus country, as opposition parties prepared to hold a new protest next week.

U.S. data and polling firm Edison Research, commissioned by the pro-opposition television channel Formula, said the differences between its own exit poll and the official results pointed to "manipulation" of the vote.