Thousands rally again in Georgia to protest the Oct. 26 parliamentary election they say was rigged

Thousands of guidance supporters rallied extracurricular Georgia’s parliament for nan 2nd consecutive Monday to denounce nan Oct. 26 predetermination arsenic illegitimate aft nan ruling statement was declared nan victor amid allegations of vote-rigging helped by Russia

TBILISI, Georgia -- Thousands of guidance supporters rallied extracurricular Georgia's parliament for nan 2nd consecutive Monday to denounce nan Oct. 26 election arsenic illegitimate aft nan ruling statement was declared nan victor amid allegations of vote-rigging helped by Russia.

The protesters, who waved Georgian and European Union flags, demanded a caller parliamentary predetermination nether world supervision and an investigation of nan alleged ballot irregularities.

Opposition leaders vowed to boycott sessions of parliament and clasp regular protests until their demands are met.

The protestation took spot nether nan watch of riot police, reflecting nan simmering governmental tensions successful nan South Caucasus state of 3.7 cardinal that lies betwixt Russia and Turkey.

The Central Election Commission said nan ruling Georgian Dream statement won astir 54% of nan vote. Its leaders person rejected nan guidance claims of ballot fraud.

President Salome Zourabichvili, who has rejected nan charismatic results, says Georgia has fallen unfortunate to unit from Moscow against joining nan EU. Zourabichvili, who holds mostly ceremonial position, has urged nan United States and EU support nan demonstrations.

Officials successful Washington and Brussels person urged a afloat investigation of nan election, while nan Kremlin has rejected nan accusations of interference.

Georgian Dream, which has been successful powerfulness since 2012, was established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his luck successful Russia.

The guidance has accused it of becoming progressively authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. It has precocious adopted laws akin to those utilized by nan Kremlin to ace down connected state of reside and LGBTQ+ rights.

European predetermination observers said nan predetermination took spot successful a “divisive” ambiance marked by instances of bribery, double voting and beingness violence. Observers said instances of intimidation and different violations were peculiarly prevalent successful agrarian areas.

The EU suspended Georgia’s rank exertion process indefinitely because of its transition successful June of a Russian-style “foreign power law.” Many Georgians viewed nan parliamentary predetermination arsenic a pivotal referendum connected nan country's effort to subordinate nan EU.

Georgian Dream promised to proceed pushing toward EU accession but it besides wants to “reset” ties pinch Russia, nan country's erstwhile imperial master. In 2008, Georgia fought and mislaid a little warfare pinch Moscow, which past recognized nan independency of 2 breakaway Georgian regions and bolstered its subject beingness there.

Georgia's prosecutors past week launched an investigation of nan alleged vote-rigging. The guidance instantly objected that nan Prosecutor’s Office would not behaviour an independent investigation because its caput was appointed by nan Georgian Dream-controlled parliament.