CALL TO ACTION:
The pro-Russian ruling party in the country of Georgia is trying to steal the elections. They are declaring victory and claiming over 50% of the vote, even though every independent exit poll says the opposite.
What is urgently needed:
- World leaders must condemn these elections as illegitimate and take steps to allow a peaceful transfer of power that reflects the will of the people.
- Press coverage – this is the #1 factor in keeping the pro-democracy activists safe.
What WE can do:
- Call our elected officials and demand they support the Georgian opposition and ensure a fair transition of power.
- Call & write to the press and demand they cover this story. Our attention is their protection!
Link to this page: bit.ly/freegeorgia
FULL ACTION TOOLKIT BELOW
Scroll down to see our full meme gallery
Contact decision-makers
Basic call script
The country of Georgia held its national elections on 26 October, and I am very concerned about the results. The Russia-aligned ruling party blatantly falsified the results of the election.
- The Georgian Dream party claim to have received 54% of the vote – thirteen percent (!) higher than shown in exit polls, and TWENTY percent (!!) higher than in pre-election polling from last month (34%).
- Multiple opposition party headquarters were attacked by violent mobs during the election.
- Election monitors were assaulted and beaten across the country, in many cases on camera.
We are looking at another Belarus-style dictatorship in Europe. If we don’t take action now, we will likely regret it for decades to come.
It is important that our elected officials speak out clearly as soon as possible, to denounce this attempted seizure of power.
1. Call Congress
- Look up who your 3 members of Congress are (2 Senators + 1 Representative). Write down their names.
- Call the official Congress switchboard: (202) 224-3121, and ask for each by name. They will transfer your call.
- Either a staffer will answer and take your message, or you’ll leave a message on the answering machine. Either option is good!
What to say when calling Congress:
For your call to be logged, introduce yourself with basic details: “Hi, my name is ____. I’m a constituent, and my address is ______.”
Not comfortable giving your full address? Give your ZIP code instead.
The country of Georgia held its national elections on 26 October, and I am very concerned about the results. The Russia-aligned ruling party blatantly falsified the results of the election.
Please join Representative Joe Wilson, the Chairman of the US Helsinki Commission, in calling on the State Department to examine these allegations of election rigging. It is important that they investigate and issue a clear statement as soon as possible.
The US Helsinki Commission is tracking developments in Georgia, and can provide your office with the latest information and updates. Thank you.
2. Contact the White House
- Call the WH comments line: 202-456-1111
- Text (SMS) the WH: (302) 404-0880
- Email the WH: via their official contact web form.
Add the White House to your contacts
Add the White House to your contacts
Make it easy for yourself: Add the White House’s contact details to your phone contacts!
Add the contact info above manually, or add it straight to your contacts via this digital contact card.
QR code for easy scanning on mobile. Link:
https://blinq.me/l3Ykud73mo1n
3. Contact media outlets
International media coverage is the best protection that demonstrators and opposition activists in Georgia have right now.
Who to contact:
- Make a list of the news sources you consume. Newspapers, TV, radio, online news outlets, podcasts, etc.
- Make a list of local media in your area.
- National media outlets, e.g. the New York Times, Washington Post.
What to do:
- Find their customer feedback channels (phone or messaging), and insist that they cover this important story.
- Find their social media accounts, and reply to their posts. Tag them in posts you make about this issue.
- Who are the editors of these outlets? Find them on social media, and do the same.
Ask them to cover this developing story about the stolen parliamentary elections in Georgia. Mention that you will be getting your news from other sources if they don’t give you the updates that you are looking for.
Post on social media
What to post
Hashtags: #FreeGeorgia #GeorgiaStolenElection
Images: Add one of the meme images (below) to your post/comment- if the platform allows it.
Some suggested texts (click inside box to copy):
Accounts to tag / reply to
- President Biden: @potus, @whitehouse, @joebiden, @BidenHQ
- National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan: @JakeSullivan46
- WH Press Secretary: @PressSec
- Department of Defense: @SecDef, @DeptofDefense
Click the box below to copy all Twitter handles:
Infographics
Meme gallery – from social media
Official statements
President of Georgia (2018 – present)
US Senator Ben Cardin (2007 – present), Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee
US Congressman Joe Wilson (2001 – present), Chair of the US Helsinki Commission
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen & James Risch
The Senators note that despite their recent concerns with democratic backsliding in Georgia, they had hoped to see a commitment by the Georgian government to run a free and fair election process reflecting the wishes of the Georgian people. “In reality, we have witnessed something different in this weekend’s parliamentary elections,” the letter reads.
Matthew Miller, Spokesperson for the US Department of State
“We join calls from international and local observers for a full investigation of all reports of election related violations, and urge respect for the fundamental freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly,” DoS Spox Miller says
Government of Sweden
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia (2023 – present)
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland (2007 – 2014; 2023 – present)
Transparency International – Georgian chapter & ISFED
Matthew Miller, Spokesperson for the US Department of State
President of Latvia (2003 – present)
President of Georgia (2018 – present)
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament
Head of Mission, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) (2023 – present)
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2019 – 2022)
Prime Minster of Denmark (2001-2009); Secretary General of NATO (2009-2014)
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Parliament (2021 – present)
Deputy Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament (2024 – present)
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2023 – present)
Lithuanian Ambassador to Sweden; former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012 – 2020)
President of Estonia (2021 – present)
President of Lithuania (2019 – present)
Laura Thornton, Senior Director for Global Democracy Programs at the McCain Institute
Former Prime Minister of Georgia (2019 – 2021)
President of Estonia (2021 – present)
President of the European Commission (2019 – present)
Member of the European Parliament; former Chair of Latvian Foreign Affairs Committee (2018-2024)
President of Poland (2015 – present)
Member of European Parliament from the Netherlands (2021 – present)
US Congressman Richard Hudson (2023 – present)
United States Helsinki Commission
Former President of Estonia (2006-2016)
Member of the European Parliament; former Chair of Latvian Foreign Affairs Committee (2018-2024)
Former Congressman John Shimkus, US Representative (1997 – 2021)
Head of delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to observe the Georgian elections
US Congressman Joe Wilson (2001 – present), Chair of the US Helsinki Commission
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany
Lithuanian Member of Parliament; former Minister of Defense (2008 – 2012)
Former US Congressman Adam Kinzinger (2011 – 2023)
Transparency International – Georgian chapter