Following the official confirmation of the ruling party’s victory in Georgia’s parliamentary elections, protests continue, some of which break up violently. President Salome Zurabishvili now wants to challenge the result before the Constitutional Court.
“The president has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court to have the results of the October 26 parliamentary elections annulled,” her lawyer Eka Beselia said on Tuesday. The reason is the “widespread violations of electoral law and voting secrecy.”
The country’s election commission officially confirmed the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Saturday after all votes were counted. Accordingly, the Georgian Dream received 53.93 percent of the votes, the alliance of the four opposition parties received 37.79 percent. The election commission declared the ruling party the winner immediately after the elections.
Systematic fraud according to “Russian methodology”
After the final result was announced, Zurabishvili spoke of systematic fraud based on ‘Russian methodology’. The pro-European head of state declined an invitation from the Public Prosecution Service to further explain the allegations.
The pro-European opposition parties had also previously accused the government camp of ‘stealing’ the election victory. They announced that they will not participate in the first session of the new parliament next Monday. Zurabishvili said she would not sign the decree convening parliament and called for new elections.
Iraqi Prime Minister Kobachidze announced that he would find another way. However, experts say the new parliament cannot convene until a decision is made on Zurabishvili’s complaint to the court.
Injuries and arrests during protests
There were further protests against the election results on Tuesday. Police forcibly broke up a sit-in blockade in front of the state university in Tbilisi, as a photographer from the AFP news agency noted. Protesters carrying Georgian and EU flags were beaten and led away. There were more traffic blockages in the afternoon. Sixteen people were initially arrested, three were later released, according to the Interior Ministry. Media reported arrests and injuries. Numerous videos of clashes between police and protesters are circulating on social media.
The opposition accuses the government of wanting to remove Georgia from the EU and bring the former Soviet republic closer to Moscow. Tens of thousands of government opponents have protested several times in recent weeks.
International observers noted irregularities in the elections. The European Union is calling for an investigation into the allegations. Russia denies any interference.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
