US joins calls for investigation of reports of election related violations in Georgia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department on Monday said the United States joined calls from election observers for a full investigation of all reports of election-related violations in Georgia.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Washington does not have a final assessment of the results of the election but did not rule out further consequences if the Georgian government’s direction does not change.

The country’s government and electoral commission have said the vote was free and fair, while election observers have said there were significant violations.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis, Ismail Shakil and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Chris Reese)