Tbilisi erupts in protest over election results as president calls for rally

A rally organized by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili against the results of the recent parliamentary elections has commenced in Tbilisi.

The gathering is taking place in front of the Georgian parliament, where a crowd has gathered, waving Georgian and EU flags, as well as various banners, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Protesters have taken to Rustaveli Avenue, obstructing vehicular traffic in the area.

During a briefing the day prior, Zourabichvili announced her refusal to recognize the election results and urged citizens to join the protest on October 28 at 19:00 local time. In her address, she described the current government as illegitimate.

In a related statement, President Zourabichvili emphasized that the protesters do not intend to undermine the constitutional order of Georgia.

"They are just defending their constitutional rights; no one here is encroaching on Georgia's constitutional order. This is not something that I will support and not something that people are coming out for,” she said.

After counting the votes from 99 per cent of polling stations, the ruling Georgian Dream party received 54.2 per cent of the total votes in the parliamentary elections. In response, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili accused the authorities of election rigging and called on citizens to gather for protests on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.

Meanwhile, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reassured the public that the opposition would not be able to obstruct the functioning of the new parliament.

By Vafa Guliyeva