Georgian opposition to hold rally in Tbilisi against parliamentary election results

Member of the "Strong Georgia" coalition Anna Dolidze has said that opposition party representatives in Georgia and their supporters will hold a rally on November 4 against the results of the parliamentary election in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi.

Dolidze made these remarks at a briefing, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"We will gather on Rustaveli Avenue on November 4 at 7:00 [GMT+4], where we will share a detailed action plan outlining how our protest will continue peacefully, legally, and effectively both inside and outside the country," Dolidze stated.

She claimed that the opposition has already uncovered a scheme allegedly used by the ruling "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia" party to falsify the election.

The opposition members have gathered evidence that they plan to present to the public and international partners.

The briefing featured representatives from "Strong Georgia," "Unity - National Movement," and "Coalition for Change," but excluded the party of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, "For Georgia," which also surpassed the five per cent electoral threshold. Moreover, "Strong Georgia," "Unity - National Movement," and "Coalition for Change" have announced a boycott of the new Parliament's activities, while Gakharia's position remains unclear.

Representative of the Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) Giorgi Santuriani has said during a briefing that 1,170 complaints were registered on the day of the parliamentary election. 

"This year, in connection with the 2024 parliamentary election, a total of 1,170 complaints were filed," he stated. He also noted that this number represents a decrease compared to previous election periods. For instance, during the 2020 parliamentary election, there were 2,014 complaints, while the local election in 2021 saw 1,840 complaints filed. 

Currently, these complaints are being reviewed by regional electoral commissions, with a deadline for their decisions set for November 3. After that, the examination of complaints will continue directly at the CEC. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, emerged victorious, securing 53.92 per cent of votes. 

However, the opposition coalition, comprised of four pro-Western parties, has refused to accept the election results. Incumbent Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili announced the initiation of indefinite mass protests, urging Western partners to acknowledge the elections as “totally rigged.” 

This position has garnered support from the US and the EU (EU), whose representatives have called on Georgian authorities to investigate alleged violations and conduct a vote recount.

By Naila Huseynova