Georgia's new parliament opens first session amid mass protests and boycott

The first session of parliament on Monday was half-empty, with only the ruling Georgian Dream Party present, as no opposition parties attended.

Transcript

00:00Thousands of protesters rallied outside the newly elected Georgian parliament as it opened

00:07its inaugural session, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream Party of rigging the vote.

00:13Opposition lawmakers and the country's ceremonial president refused to participate in the parliamentary

00:19activities.

00:21In Georgia, the Georgian Dream Party will continue to raise the voice of the people

00:27of Georgia.

00:28I am very proud of the people of the country, especially of the leaders and leaders of the

00:34ruling parties.

00:35Therefore, we urge you to raise the voice of the people of Georgia in a coordinated

00:41and united way.

00:43Observers said the country's recent election took place in an atmosphere marked by bribery,

00:48double-voting and physical violence.

01:06Georgia's president filed a constitutional lawsuit saying principles of voting secrecy

01:11and universality were violated.

01:18I urge you to file a constitutional lawsuit against the deputies' mandate.

01:26You are violating the law of the deputies' right to vote.

01:31In this country, 12% of the deputies are violating the law of the right to vote.

01:39This is in parallel.

01:41Therefore, this is a violation of the law.

01:45This is a violation of the law.

01:50Critics accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilting towards

01:55Moscow.