EU Leaders Urge Georgia to Probe Vote 'Irregularities'

The leaders of France, Germany, and Poland called on Georgia on Thursday to quickly probe "numerous irregularities" during a recent parliamentary poll won by the Russia-leaning ruling party but contested by the pro-Western opposition.

In a joint statement, the EU countries' leaders said they were "deeply concerned by the numerous irregularities and voter intimidation" reported during the vote, AFP reported.

They added they would not be able to support the ex-Soviet republic's ambitions to join the European Union unless it showed it was serious about carrying out necessary reforms.

 The United States is seeking to steer Armenia onto a pro-Western path using strategies tested in Ukraine and Moldova, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a statement obtained by TASS.

"Washington finds it important to increase its 'guiding influence' on the Armenian political elite to encourage Yerevan to take the pro-Western course of development as soon as possible, despite potential difficulties. The Americans are planning to follow methods they have used in Ukraine and Moldova for that," the SVR warned.