Protests break out in Tbilisi after parliamentary elections: opposition demands re-vote

This was reported by Paper Kartuli.

At around 5 p.m., more than 300 protesters began gathering near the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue. The organisers were allowed to set up a small stage.

According to rough estimates by the Mapchecking service, after 6:00 p.m., about 15,000 people may take part in the rally in the city centre.

It is noted that Rustaveli Avenue is not currently blocked, but people are standing in pedestrian zones on both sides of the street.

In addition, the motorcade of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is on a visit to Georgia, was spotted on the avenue. The protesters booed cars with Hungarian flags.

At the same time, President Salome Zurabishvili joined the rally: ‘We will fight to protect your constitutional right to vote. Now is not the time for pessimism, it is important to defend your votes calmly and with your heads up.’

According to Ekho Kavkaza, one of the leaders of the Unity National Movement party, Giorgi Vashadze, said at a rally near the Georgian parliament that the opposition demands repeat elections to be held by the international administration.

• Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on Saturday, October 26. Over 99% of the votes have been counted, with the ruling Georgian Dream party leading the pack. In addition, the Georgian opposition pre-election coalition.
• For Change has assessed the official results of the parliamentary elections and put forward a demand to Ivanishvili.
• The Georgian opposition won the parliamentary elections abroad by a large margin.
• On October 27, international observers from the OSCE, Council of Europe, NATO and the European Parliament stated that "Georgia's parliamentary elections were marred by entrenched polarisation and rhetoric that put pressure on voters."