Georgia's Central Electoral Commission faced turmoil on Saturday as protesters gathered outside the commission's building in Tbilisi to contest the results of the country's parliamentary elections held on October 26. The ruling Georgian Dream party was declared the winner with 53.93% of the vote, a result that opposition supporters have rejected, alleging election rigging.
During the meeting to confirm the election results, a commission member from the opposition United National Movement party threw black paint at commission chairman Giorgi Kalandarishvili, causing disruption. Kalandarishvili defended the election integrity, stating that accusations of rigging were baseless.
European election observers characterized the parliamentary elections in Georgia as divisive, marred by incidents of bribery, double voting, and physical violence. The vote was seen as a crucial moment for Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union, with the bloc having suspended the country's membership application process earlier in the year.
Critics have raised concerns about the ruling Georgian Dream party's alleged authoritarian tendencies and alignment with Moscow, pointing to laws restricting freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. President Salome Zourabichvili, who has disputed the election results, attributed Georgia's challenges to pressure from Moscow against EU integration.
The international community, including officials in the United States and the European Union, has called for a thorough investigation into the election process. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has denied any interference in Georgia's internal affairs.
