Georgian opposition plans another rally in Tbilisi amid election controversy

The Georgian opposition has announced a major rally scheduled for November 4 evening on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.

The gathering will commence at 7:00 PM local time, directly outside the parliament building, Caliber.Az reports citing Georgian media.

This demonstration marks the ninth day following the recent elections, the official results of which have been rejected by four opposition factions that secured minority seats in parliament. The opposition is demanding an international investigation into alleged widespread vote rigging and is calling for a repeat election under international oversight.

Key participants in organizing the rally include the Coalition for Change, the Unity - National Movement, and Strong Georgia. However, representatives from the For Georgia Party were notably absent from the preparatory meetings. Party leader Giorgi Gakharia indicated that their focus remains on gathering evidence of electoral fraud, stating they will join the protests alongside their supporters once sufficient evidence is collected.

While the rally organizers have not disclosed detailed plans for the event, they have hinted at future announcements following the rally's commencement. Earlier, the Coalition for Change mentioned their preparations to set up a tent city, with nearly a thousand tents already acquired. However, it remains uncertain whether this tent city will materialize in the centre of Tbilisi during the rally.

This rally will mark the second protest organized by the opposition following the elections. The first protest occurred on October 28, shortly after the Central Election Commission announced the preliminary results.

By Vafa Guliyeva