Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, on Monday to voice their ongoing protests against the ruling party’s claim of victory in the parliamentary election held on October 26. The demonstrators allege that Russia played a role in manipulating the election results.
Outside the Georgian parliament, protesters proudly waved Georgian and European Union flags, voicing their demands for a new parliamentary election that would be closely monitored by the international community. Additionally, they called for a thorough investigation into the allegations of election fraud.
Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of the Unity National Movement Coalition, made a firm commitment that the opposition will persistently fight until the very end.
“We do not recognize the election results because they were heavily rigged,” he emphasized. “Our objective is to hold new elections and establish a new government that will lead Georgia towards European integration.”
Opposition leaders have made a firm commitment to refrain from attending parliamentary sessions and instead organize frequent protests until their demands are fulfilled.
The governing Georgian Dream party has emerged victorious in the elections, securing approximately 54% of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission. Despite allegations of vote fraud raised by the opposition, the party’s leaders have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
The European election observers have described the election as having taken place in a “divisive” atmosphere, characterized by incidents of bribery, double voting, and physical violence.
The opposition has leveled accusations against Georgian Dream, a political party founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a secretive billionaire who amassed his wealth in Russia. They claim that the party has been becoming more authoritarian and showing a pro-Moscow bias. In recent times, Georgian Dream has passed legislation resembling those employed by the Kremlin to suppress freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights.
President Salome Zourabichvili, who has dismissed the official results, believes that Georgia has become a target of Moscow’s pressure to prevent its accession to the EU. Zourabichvili, who serves as the ceremonial head of state, has called on the United States and the EU to provide their support to the ongoing protests.
Washington and Brussels officials have called for a thorough investigation into the election, while the Kremlin has denied any involvement in the alleged interference.
The parliamentary election was seen by many Georgians as a crucial referendum on the country’s aspiration to join the EU. Georgia’s membership application process was put on hold indefinitely by the EU after it passed a “foreign influence law” in June, which resembled the Russian approach.
Lawmakers from various European Union nations showed their support for the protesters by attending Monday’s rally.
At the rally, Lithuanian parliament member Zygimantas Pavilionis passionately urged the crowd not to give up and to fight for their freedom, democracy, country, and membership in the EU and NATO.
He emphasized that someone is attempting to take away these fundamental rights and urged the people to stand strong in defense of their values. Pavilionis’s powerful words resonated with the audience, inspiring them to take action and protect what is rightfully theirs.