One of the leaders of the Georgian opposition party “United National Movement” (UNM) Nika Melia announced a new protest action on Monday, November 9, on Rustaveli Square, near the parliament building in Tbilisi.
“Tomorrow at 18.00 (17.00 Moscow time) we are waiting for everyone on Rustaveli Avenue. We will fight to the end. Tomorrow the whole nation will gather, not just the opposition,” Melia told reporters.
CEC protesters were asked to disperse
Meanwhile, opposition spokesman Aleko Elisashvili asked the protesters in front of the building of the Central Election Commission of Georgia in Tbilisi to temporarily disperse in the interests of the security of the protesters.
“So that detentions and beatings do not begin … we urge you to leave the territory of the CEC today. We want people not to suffer, we want to defuse the situation,” he stressed.
Prior to that, the police twice used water cannons against the protesters. According to the Mtavari Arxi TV channel, at least two people were injured.
Opposition demands
Opposition supporters are demanding new parliamentary elections and the resignation of CEC head Tamar Zhvania, who is believed to be involved in falsifying the voting results. The ruling party “Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia” called the opposition’s demands absurd.
Following the results of the first round of elections to the country’s unicameral parliament, the ruling party won 48.15 percent of the vote. The opposition bloc “United National Movement – United Opposition Strength in Unity” (UNM) received 27.14 percent. The opposition did not recognize the election results and refused to enter the new parliament.
Elections under the new rules
Parliamentary elections in Georgia were held according to new rules. The threshold for passing games has been lowered from 3 to 1 percent. 48 parties and two blocs took part in the elections. 150 deputies are elected to the Georgian parliament: 120 according to lists and 30 according to the majority system. Parliament is elected for four years.
The second round of elections will be held in all 8 single-mandate constituencies of Tbilisi, as well as in 6 constituencies in the regions – in Batumi, Zugdidi, Kutaisi, Khashuri, Rustavi and Telavi. According to the data published by the CEC, in these constituencies, none of the candidates for majoritarian deputies managed to overcome the required 50 percent barrier. There are 30 single-mandate constituencies in Georgia.
The second round is expected to take place on November 21st.
See also:
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
The beginning of the protests
Protesters gathered in front of the Georgian parliament building in Tbilisi on the evening of June 20. They were outraged by the behavior of State Duma Deputy Sergei Gavrilov, head of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy (MAP), the next General Assembly of which was to be held in the Georgian capital.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sergei Gavrilov in the Parliament of Georgia
The Russian parliamentarian, in accordance with the protocol – as the head of the IPA – took the chair of the speaker of the Georgian parliament and began his speech in Russian, provoking the outrage of representatives of the Georgian opposition.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Protesters with placards in front of the Georgian parliament building
The opposition accused the Georgian authorities and the chairman of the parliament of allowing Gavrilov’s speech. Georgian politicians were especially outraged by the fact that Gavrilov supports Moscow’s recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Anti-Russian slogans
Those who came to the rally in Tbilisi protested against the “Russian occupation” of Georgia. One of the leaders of the opposition party “European Georgia” Gigi Ugulava said that the protest event will continue until the chairman of the parliament Irakli Kobakhidze resigns.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Thousands of protesters rally in Tbilisi
Several thousand people took part in a spontaneous demonstration in front of the Georgian parliament building. The police tried to restrain the protesters, special forces and special equipment were deployed in the courtyard of the parliament.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Protesters occupied the square in front of the Georgian parliament building
Demonstrators later tried to break into the parliament building. Police in Tbilisi used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Clashes between demonstrators and police in Tbilisi
According to the Georgian Ministry of Health, 52 people were injured during the clashes between demonstrators and the police, 38 of them were policemen.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Russia bans direct flights with Georgia
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to the anti-Russian statements of Georgian politicians, signed on June 21 a decree temporarily banning Russian airlines from transporting passengers to Georgia. The decree comes into force on July 8. And from that date the Ministry of Transport banned Georgian air carriers from flying to Russia.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Protests in Tbilisi do not stop
Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, whose chair was taken by Russian MP Gavrilov, resigned on June 21. He himself was in Baku during Gavrilov’s visit. Meanwhile, protesters continued to gather outside the parliament building in Tbilisi all week, demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia and the release of demonstrators detained during previous protests.
-
Mass protests in Tbilisi
Proportional elections
On June 24, the Georgian authorities agreed to fulfill part of the protesters’ demands. Parliamentary elections in 2020 will be held according to a proportional system with a zero electoral barrier, promised Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party.
Author: Anastasia Arinushkina
