Thousands protested outside Georgia's parliament in Tbilisi on Monday after the governing Georgian Dream party won an election marred by voting irregularities.
Demonstrators, some holding anti-Russia banners, viewed the election as pivotal for the country's future, with Georgian Dream deepening ties with Russia while the opposition aims for quicker integration with Europe. Despite Georgia's application for EU membership, its candidate status was frozen due to legislation on foreign agents.
Georgian Dream, in power since 2012, received nearly 54% of the vote, according to the election commission. The four main opposition parties, rejecting the results, announced a boycott of parliament.
President Salome Zourabichvili urged citizens to protest, stating, "You did not lose the elections. Your vote was stolen, and they tried to steal your future as well." She called for peaceful defense of their constitutional right to have their votes respected.
Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe noted incidents of vote-buying, voter intimidation, and ballot-stuffing but did not declare the election rigged.
The election outcome poses a challenge to the EU's expansion plans in former Soviet states. NATO and the EU called for a full investigation. The US is in discussions with European partners regarding an appropriate investigative body and has warned of potential consequences if the Georgian government does not address its "anti-democratic actions."
The ruling Dream party has vowed to proceed with the session despite widespread boycotts by opposition groups and ongoing constitutional disputes.
The European Commission has announced plans to dispatch a technical mission to Georgia in the coming weeks to investigate alleged violations during the October 26 parliamentary elections.
The protest on Melikishvili Avenue has been temporarily paused following a decision by opposition leaders. The announcement was made to rally participants by key figures from opposition parties.
Police in Georgia detained 16 people in the capital Tbilisi on Tuesday after clashing with protesters opposing the results of last month's parliamentary election, which the opposition and the pro-Western president say were rigged.
The EU will send a mission to Georgia to investigate alleged electoral fraud in the October elections, as announced by Josep Borrell after the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
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The ruling Dream party has vowed to proceed with the session despite widespread boycotts by opposition groups and ongoing constitutional disputes.
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The European Commission has announced plans to dispatch a technical mission to Georgia in the coming weeks to investigate alleged violations during the October 26 parliamentary elections.
Delegates at COP29 in Baku push for consensus on climate finance targets, with calls for urgent action to address the global climate crisis as negotiations intensify.
Short-term rental owners in Croatia protested against proposed tax hikes, claiming the measures unfairly target low-income earners and threaten their livelihoods. The government argues the changes aim to tackle a housing crisis driven by tourism demand.
Global tensions rise at COP29 in Baku as developing nations reject the proposed $300B climate finance goal, demanding at least $500B annually to address urgent needs. Negotiations face a breaking point as blocs threaten to walk out over unmet demands.
Hundreds of activists marched in Busan, South Korea, on Saturday, urging stronger global action against plastic waste ahead of next week’s U.N. talks on a legally binding plastic pollution treaty. Participants called for reduced production and showcased creative protests using discarded plastic.
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