TBILISI — An opposition rally is below means in Tbilisi exterior Georgia’s Appeals Court docket, the fourth protest in as many days in opposition to the outcomes of parliamentary elections claimed by the ruling Georgian Dream occasion amid allegations of widespread fraud.
The opposition, which has refused to acknowledge the consequence, has been holding giant protests in Tbilisi after the Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream occasion, which has been in energy for the previous 12 years, claimed victory with 54 % of the vote.
Georgia’s pro-European president, Salome Zurabishvili additionally refused to acknowledge the validity of the outcomes, alleging large fraud and Russian interference.
The protest in Tbilisi got here after a courtroom within the central metropolis of Gori on November 6 rejected a petition by election displays calling for the annulment of leads to a number of election precincts within the metropolis, the place violations of the vote’s confidentiality have been noticed through the October 26 parliamentary election.
A coalition of monitoring organizations referred to as My Voice filed a petition within the Gori courtroom in opposition to the Central Election Fee (TsSK) calling for the annulment of leads to 14 of town’s precincts the place violations had been documented.
My Voice has stated its observers from 1,131 precincts stated there have been greater than 900 instances of violations of election procedures.
However presiding choose Nino Gogatishvili refused to just accept the petition after 5 hours of hearings, prompting representatives of My Voice to say they may enchantment the choice within the Appeals Court docket.
In the meantime, tons of of individuals gathered exterior the Appeals Court docket the place complaints are being filed in opposition to choices by decrease courts that rejected requests to annul votes due to fraud. Opposition leaders have been banned from attending the Appeals Court docket proceedings, prompting them to protest exterior the constructing.
“I’m a citizen of Georgia, the courtroom proceedings are below means, they’re public, so you will need to let me in. You might be breaking the regulation now, you recognize it higher than me…. You aren’t in Russia, are you?” Anna Dolidze, one of many leaders of the Sturdy Georgia occasion, instructed police blocking the doorway.
One other opposition chief, Giorgi Vashadze of the Unity — Nationwide Motion bloc, demanded that doubtful votes be annulled.
“We demand that the courtroom acknowledge the precise to secrecy of the vote, assured by the structure of Georgia, which was completely violated, and annul the election outcomes. The primary precedent was created within the Tetritskaro courtroom. It was confirmed that the election outcomes have been falsified. We received, and somebody is attempting to steal this victory,” Vashadze instructed RFE/RL.
“The protest will proceed with out interruption, it is not going to cease till we rejoice the ultimate victory that the folks gave us.”
In Tetritskaro, Choose Vladimir Kuchua dominated in favor of the criticism filed by a civic group referred to as the Younger Attorneys’ Affiliation, deciding to annul the consequence at 30 polling stations based mostly on proof offered by the group.
The TsSK challenged his choice, declaring them unfounded, prompting the opposition in flip to problem the fee’s ruling on the Appeals Court docket.
Kuchua has been hailed by the opposition as a uncommon, brave Justice of the Peace to go in opposition to Georgian Dream, which has been in energy since 2012.
Zurabishvili additionally protested on X.
“The Tbilisi Appeals Court docket has denied political events their proper to enter the chamber the place the election frauds are judged !!!! That’s justice because the « Georgian dream » sees and practices it…” Zurabishvili stated.
Nika Melia, one of many leaders of Coalition for Change, has stated demonstrations will proceed for brand new elections.
“Within the coming days and weeks, our process is to fill Tbilisi with folks. All main squares, streets, avenues must be full of individuals,” Melia stated.
One other opposition group, the Girchi Get together, has additionally joined the decision for contemporary elections, arguing that the confidentiality of the vote had been violated on October 26.
The occasion, which didn’t cross the 5 % threshold wanted to enter parliament, has scheduled a rally exterior the parliament constructing for November 9 and urged the TsSK to name new elections inside one week. It has additionally appealed to Georgia’s Western companions to not acknowledge the outcomes of the vote.