The Helsinki Commission issues a statement regarding the October 26 parliamentary elections in Georgia.

According to the statement, as President Salome Zurabishvili, opposition parties and civil society chart the path to an election process that reflects the true will of the Georgian people, the US and the European Union must stand by them.

In addition, the statement states that "in the days following the Georgian parliamentary elections, Georgian civil society, politicians and observers presented clear evidence that the election results do not reflect the will of the Georgian people".

"Independent information collected by third parties and local observers points to systemic violations both in the run-up to the election and on election day, which affected the integrity of the election.

Georgian President Zurabishvili clearly stated that the election results are fraudulent and emphasized Russia's sophisticated efforts to interfere in the elections and undermine Georgian state institutions.

As President Zurabishvili, opposition parties and civil society chart the path to an election process that reflects the true will of the Georgian people, the US and the European Union must stand by them and take substantial steps to help Georgians protect their democracy," the US Helsinki Commission said in a statement.