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.
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 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.
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.
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