TBILISI, Georgia: Thousands of Georgians gathered in Tbilisi to protest alleged electoral fraud by the ruling Georgian Dream party and to denounce Russian interference in the October 26 parliamentary election.
AFP reports the opposition, led by pro-Western parties, has refused to recognize the election results and has labeled the new parliament “illegitimate.”
This stance is backed by leaders such as Nika Melia of the Akhali party and Mamuka Khazaradze from the Coalition for Change, who are demanding a re-vote and an international investigation into the alleged election manipulation. These groups have vowed to hold daily demonstrations until their demands are met.
The U.S. and European Union have also criticized the election, citing irregularities in the process. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has echoed concerns, alleging Russian interference and warning that the current trajectory could jeopardize Georgia’s aspirations for EU membership. The EU’s Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of a pro-European orientation in her recent conversation with Zurabishvili, suggesting that specific reforms are necessary to maintain Georgia’s relationship with the EU.
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Meanwhile, protests are intensifying, with demonstrators accusing the government of undermining Georgia’s pro-European goals and aligning with Moscow.
Georgian courts have annulled results from several precincts due to violations, setting a potential precedent, as election monitors claim to have identified widespread electoral fraud benefiting Georgian Dream. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, however, insists that the elections were fair, countering the opposition’s claims as an exaggeration.
