In Georgia, thousands of people rallied outside the parliament on Monday night to protest what they believe was a rigged parliamentary vote with the help of Russia. Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili, in an impassionate, and unprecedented speech, accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of betraying the people’s vote and future, while promising to protect Georgia’s course towards the EU.
“You didn’t lose the election,” Zourabichvili said to the protestors holding Georgian and EU flags. “They took your vote and even attempted to take your future, but nobody has the right,” to do that.
As mainly an honorary position, the president criticized Georgian Dream for turning into an authoritarian regime and siding with Russia. Still, while she did not offer concrete proof of the Russian interference, her message was warmly welcomed by many in Georgia who want to join the European Union. The was followed by a peaceful rally but the event only intensified the discovery of the divide nation and the struggle for the direction of the country.
It has been rejected by the opposition leaders, and now Giorgi Vashadze of the United National Movement coalition plans to call in an international supervised vote. No going for this parliament. It stood, he said, that “We reject all authority.”
World’s leaders have also joined the band and called for independent investigation into the matter. More than anything, European officials said that the Georgians are equally entitled to determine their destiny. American authorities demanded the Georgian authorities to investigate the statements concerning the violations of the election campaign laws and cases of the improper use of resources, including manifestations of the pressure.
CEC announced Georgian Dream as a winner of the election, with 54.8% of the vote, and evenan more substantial base in non-urban constituencies. Thus, although the support was significantly higher across the country, in the urban population, especially in Tbilisi, the support was considerably lower.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor ADC Orbán, who has close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, became the first foreign leader to congratulate Georgian Dream, arriving in Georgia for two days. That added more tension as EU officials have called for a quick and clear probe into the election claims.
These protests are ringing discontent in Georgia, a 3.7 million population country which is neighbor to Russia, for a transparent government and free and fair elections and for a future with Europe.
