TASR informs about it according to the report of the AP agency.
Demonstrators gathered in front of the Georgian parliament, carrying Georgian and EU flags. They demanded new parliamentary elections with international supervision, as well as an investigation into alleged electoral fraud. Giorgi Vashadze of the opposition United National Movement promised that the opposition would “fight to the end”.
“The vote was heavily manipulated, so we do not recognize its results,” he said. “Our goal is new elections, our goal is to form a new government that will lead Georgia to European integration,” he added. Opposition leaders have vowed to boycott parliamentary sessions and stage regular protests until their demands are met.
Legislators from several EU countries took part in Monday’s rally as a sign of solidarity with the protesters, AP reports. “Someone is trying to take away your freedom, democracy, your country, your membership in the EU and NATO,” Žygimantas Pavilionis, a member of the Lithuanian parliament, told the rally. “Don’t give up. Fight for your freedom, fight for your democracy, fight for your country, and for your membership in the EU and NATO,” he added.
According to official results, the pro-Russian ruling party Georgian Dream won the election, receiving approximately 54 percent of the vote. Its representatives reject the accusations of fraud.
European election observers say the election took place in a “divisive” atmosphere marked by cases of bribery, repeat voting and physical violence.
Laws similar to those used by the Kremlin
The opposition accuses the ruling Georgian Sen of becoming increasingly authoritarian and pro-Moscow. He recently adopted laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to suppress freedom of expression or the rights of LGBTQ+ sexual minorities.
Georgia’s pro-Western president Salome Zurabishvili, who has refused to recognize the official election results, says Georgia has fallen victim to pressure from Moscow to oppose its EU entry. At the same time, the president called on the United States and the EU to support the opposition demonstrations.
The parliamentary elections were seen as a battle between the ruling party deepening relations with Russia and the pro-Western opposition seeking EU membership. Georgia has been a candidate country for the EU since December 2023. However, in response to the adoption of the “law on foreign agents”, Brussels suspended his access process in July and froze tens of millions of euros in financial aid.
Both Washington and Brussels are calling for a full investigation into the conduct of the elections. However, the Kremlin rejects the accusations of interference.
