Georgia votes in an election that could take it toward the EU or into Russia’s orbit

Associated Press

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgians are voting in a parliamentary election that many citizens see as a make-or-break vote on the opportunity to join the European Union. Saturday’s vote will decide whether Georgia gets back on track to EU membership or if it embraces authoritarianism and falls into Russia’s orbit. Polls suggest most Georgians favor joining the EU but Brussels suspended the country’s membership process after the ruling party passed a law cracking down on freedom of speech in June. Polls opened in the parliamentary election at 8 a.m. local time and will close 12 hours later.