Georgian protesters rally in Tbilisi ahead of first session of newly-elected parliament

euronews (in English)

The round-the-clock protests in Tbilisi follow the 26 October elections that kept the governing pro-Russian Georgian Dream party in power. Opponents say the vote was rigged and suspect neighbouring Russia of election interference.

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00:00Thousands of people have staged a protest outside the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi

00:06ahead of the first session of the newly elected parliament on Monday. Protesters vowed to

00:11spend the night outside parliament, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream Party of rigging

00:16the results of October's elections. Members of opposition parties have also announced

00:21their refusal to participate in parliamentary activities.

00:26The round-the-clock protests follow elections on the 26th of October that kept the governing

00:45pro-Russian Georgian Dream Party in power. Opponents say the vote was rigged and suspect

00:50neighboring Russia of election interference. The Central Election Commission said Georgian

00:56Dream won with about 54 percent of the vote and party leaders have rejected claims of

01:01fraud at the polls. European observers said the election took place in a divisive atmosphere

01:06marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. Pro-European President

01:12Salome Zubishvili said earlier this month that she would appeal the election result

01:17to the Constitutional Court. The EU suspended Georgia's membership application process indefinitely

01:23in June after the country's parliament passed a controversial foreign interference law.

01:28The party has also pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down

01:33on freedom of speech and LGBTQ plus rights.

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