03:12Hungarian PM Viktor Orban described the recent Georgian elections as 'free and democratic', as he held talks and a press briefing alongside his counterpart Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi on Tuesday.
"I read the evaluation of international organisations," he said. "And I see that no one dares to question it. That this election was a free and democratic election. For all the criticisms, no one dares to go this far. They are right to do so, as we Hungarians have also sent observers."
He also said that both their countries were 'on the side of peace' in Ukraine and in favour of EU integration, but neither wanted to be involved in a 'pointless war.'
"I congratulate you for not allowing your country to become a second Ukraine while you are conducting pro-European politics in Europe," he added. Orban also claimed that the results had only been questioned in Europe and elsewhere because 'the Conservatives won'.
"If the liberal parties win, then we (according to them) have democracy," he stated. "If the Conservatives win, there is (according to them) no democracy."
In Saturday's elections, the Georgian Dream party won with 53.93 percent of the vote. Approximately two million people took part, representing a 59 percent turnout.
Pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili said that she did not 'recognise' the result and called for protests, suggesting there had been Russian interference. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described that as 'nonsense'.
Opposition parties also contested the results while former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili claimed that the election was 'completely rigged and stolen'.
Kobakhidze described the opposition's actions as a 'hopeless attempt' to save face. Orban congratulated Kobakhidze on his 'overwhelming victory', while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also sent a congratulatory letter to the prime minister, calling the Georgian Dream party a 'leading political force'. Meanwhile the US and some EU countries have called for a 'full investigation' into alleged polling violations.
'Free and democratic... you haven't allowed Georgia to become second Ukraine' - Orban claims election row 'because conservatives won'
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban described the recent Georgian elections as 'free and democratic', as he held talks and a press briefing alongside his counterpart Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi on Tuesday.
"I read the evaluation of international organisations," he said. "And I see that no one dares to question it. That this election was a free and democratic election. For all the criticisms, no one dares to go this far. They are right to do so, as we Hungarians have also sent observers."
He also said that both their countries were 'on the side of peace' in Ukraine and in favour of EU integration, but neither wanted to be involved in a 'pointless war.'
"I congratulate you for not allowing your country to become a second Ukraine while you are conducting pro-European politics in Europe," he added. Orban also claimed that the results had only been questioned in Europe and elsewhere because 'the Conservatives won'.
"If the liberal parties win, then we (according to them) have democracy," he stated. "If the Conservatives win, there is (according to them) no democracy."
In Saturday's elections, the Georgian Dream party won with 53.93 percent of the vote. Approximately two million people took part, representing a 59 percent turnout.
Pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili said that she did not 'recognise' the result and called for protests, suggesting there had been Russian interference. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described that as 'nonsense'.
Opposition parties also contested the results while former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili claimed that the election was 'completely rigged and stolen'.
Kobakhidze described the opposition's actions as a 'hopeless attempt' to save face. Orban congratulated Kobakhidze on his 'overwhelming victory', while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also sent a congratulatory letter to the prime minister, calling the Georgian Dream party a 'leading political force'. Meanwhile the US and some EU countries have called for a 'full investigation' into alleged polling violations.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban described the recent Georgian elections as 'free and democratic', as he held talks and a press briefing alongside his counterpart Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi on Tuesday.
"I read the evaluation of international organisations," he said. "And I see that no one dares to question it. That this election was a free and democratic election. For all the criticisms, no one dares to go this far. They are right to do so, as we Hungarians have also sent observers."
He also said that both their countries were 'on the side of peace' in Ukraine and in favour of EU integration, but neither wanted to be involved in a 'pointless war.'
"I congratulate you for not allowing your country to become a second Ukraine while you are conducting pro-European politics in Europe," he added. Orban also claimed that the results had only been questioned in Europe and elsewhere because 'the Conservatives won'.
"If the liberal parties win, then we (according to them) have democracy," he stated. "If the Conservatives win, there is (according to them) no democracy."
In Saturday's elections, the Georgian Dream party won with 53.93 percent of the vote. Approximately two million people took part, representing a 59 percent turnout.
Pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili said that she did not 'recognise' the result and called for protests, suggesting there had been Russian interference. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described that as 'nonsense'.
Opposition parties also contested the results while former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili claimed that the election was 'completely rigged and stolen'.
Kobakhidze described the opposition's actions as a 'hopeless attempt' to save face. Orban congratulated Kobakhidze on his 'overwhelming victory', while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also sent a congratulatory letter to the prime minister, calling the Georgian Dream party a 'leading political force'. Meanwhile the US and some EU countries have called for a 'full investigation' into alleged polling violations.