Georgian President Calls for Protest Against ‘Totally Falsified’ Vote, Tens of Thousands Rally

On Monday evening, tens of thousands of Georgians, many displaying EU and Georgian flags, assembled outside the parliament building in Tbilisi. This gathering followed an appeal by the pro-Western president to demand the invalidation of Saturday’s election results. President Salome Zourabichvili, who has aligned herself with the opposition, had previously urged a demonstration outside parliament, informing the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg that this represented a “crucial moment”. She also implored the international community to support Georgia’s populace in the wake of a contested election, which she asserts was “totally falsified”. Conversely, the governing Georgian Dream party and the election commission insist that the outcome, which granted the government nearly 54% of the votes, was free and fair. President Zourabichvili stated that Georgia’s international partners ought to observe the unfolding situation, further remarking that the government’s triumph did not reflect “the will of the Georgian people,” who desire to preserve their European future. Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze informed the BBC that purported irregularities preceding and during the ballot were limited to “just a couple” of polling stations. Nevertheless, the European Union, NATO, and the United States have collectively requested a comprehensive inquiry into numerous fraud allegations reported by monitoring missions both before and on the day of Saturday’s election. Among the EU’s 27 foreign ministers, thirteen declared their support, stating they stood “at this difficult time at the side of Georgians,” and emphasized that “violations of electoral integrity are incompatible with the standards expected from a candidate to the European Union.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asserted that Georgians possess a “right to see that electoral irregularities were investigated swiftly, transparently and independently.” She further commented that “Georgians, like all Europeans, must be the masters of their own destiny.” The precise objectives that the Georgian president and four opposition factions aimed to accomplish by mobilizing Georgians onto the primary avenue before parliament on Monday remained somewhat ambiguous. However, Salome Zourabichvili affirmed that the demonstration would be “very peaceful,” and stated her belief that Georgia’s authorities did not seek confrontation. Demonstrators gathered on Rustaveli Avenue expressed clear demands. Lasha, 22, articulated, “The main thing we want here is to get what we deserve – legal elections.” He added, “No-one had any idea this would happen. At first we were frustrated, then we realised what happened and now we’re angry.” Liza, 20, desired “another election that isn’t forged” and expressed satisfaction upon hearing representatives from the four principal opposition parties encourage Georgians to persevere. Keta, another protester, conveyed to the BBC her feelings of being “cheated and frustrated.” She stated, “Me and my friends and my family deserve way better than we have right now… We will fight to the end until we get our justice.” The president indicated that the subsequent steps rested with the populace and political parties. She remarked, “Maybe we won’t be able to achieve it today or tomorrow.” She elaborated, “There are a number of things that can be done. There can be an international review of some of the elements of the election, there can be a call for new elections. In what period of time I don’t know.” This current protest call resonates with weeks of demonstrations earlier this year that paralyzed Tbilisi’s central Rustaveli Avenue. In May, confrontations occurred with riot police, who deployed water cannon, tear gas, and force, as Georgians attempted to prevent the government from enacting a “foreign agents” law, similar to one in Russia, aimed at media and civil society organizations receiving foreign funding. Those protests ultimately proved unsuccessful, leading the EU to suspend Georgia’s application to join the 27-member union, citing democratic backsliding. The government has evidently made preparations for additional protests. Last week, it was revealed that the interior minister acquired new water cannon vehicles and other gear for riot police, including lethal weapons, intended for deployment “when it becomes necessary.” On Sunday, Georgia’s prime minister informed the BBC that “the general content of the elections was in line with legal principles and the principle of democratic elections.” However, President Zourabichvili characterized the extent of election fraud as unparalleled, stating, “Everything was used that we’ve ever heard of in this country in a parallel way.” As an illustration, she claimed that prior to the elections, families reliant on state funding had their identity cards confiscated. She noted that the reason was initially unclear, but it subsequently became apparent that these identity cards were being utilized for “carousel voting” within Georgia’s new electronic voting system – a practice described as “when one person can vote 10, 15, 17 times with the same ID.” Furthermore, she labeled the election outcome a “Russian special operation,” though she refrained from directly accusing the Kremlin of intervention. Instead, she alleged that the government employed a “very sophisticated” Russian-inspired propaganda strategy and engaged “PR people” from Russia. The government has strongly refuted any association with Russia, highlighting its status as the sole nation in the region without diplomatic relations with Moscow. Russia engaged in a five-day conflict with its southern neighbor in 2008 and continues to occupy 20% of Georgian territory. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the election and has derided Georgia’s pro-EU president, whose tenure concludes in December. A few international leaders, including Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, have extended congratulations to Georgian Dream for achieving a fourth term in the disputed election. Prime Minister Orban arrived in Tbilisi on Monday evening for a two-day visit, which has caused displeasure among several of his European counterparts due to the signal it conveys to the Georgian government. In a joint declaration, 13 EU foreign ministers asserted that Orban “does not represent the EU.” Orban and Georgian Dream share significant commonalities. Both prioritize socially conservative family values and have portrayed themselves as opposing factions that favor conflict over peace. Despite Hungary currently holding the EU presidency, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell underscored that “whatever Mr Orban says on his visit to Georgia, he does not represent the European Union.”