Georgian Opposition Protests Ruling Party’s Victory in Elections

Protests in front of the Georgian parliament. (Wikimedia Commons)

Protests in Georgia continued for a second weekend after parliamentary elections were held on October 31. The Georgian Dream party claimed victory with 48.1 percent of the near-complete election results, but the opposition alleges voter fraud. Thousands protested the results on the streets of Tbilisi on November 1. 

The United Nationalist Movement (UNM), Georgia’s largest opposition party, received 21.12 percent of the vote. Other opposition parties also earned seats in parliament after passing the 1 percent threshold.

The opposition refuses to recognize the election results. David Kirtadze, a member of the UNM, said, “This is not a real picture and these results don’t reflect the will of Georgian people.” They have promised to hold protests until the calling of a new election. 

Led by the UNM, an alliance of more than 30 opposition parties declared on October 30 that they would not form any coalitions with the Georgian Dream party after the election. Moreover, the opposition claims that they have received enough votes to form their own coalition. 

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said that the election respected fundamental freedoms, although it did raise concerns about claims of a blurred line between the ruling party and the state with regard to pressuring voters.

This election marks the Georgian Dream party’s third consecutive victory, having now held a strong majority for eight years in Georgia’s 150-seat parliament. Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili founded the Georgian Dream party, and opponents assert that he runs the country from behind the scenes—the party denies these allegations. The government’s popularity has declined as critics accuse it of mishandling an economy reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The opposition resumed protesting on the night of November 8 at the parliament building in Tbilisi. Some protesters moved to the premises of the Central Election Commission (CEC) demanding the resignation of chairman Tamar Zhvania. At the CEC, riot police deployed water cannons twice against protesters, the first time apparently without warning. The Georgian Interior Ministry announced that 19 people had faced arrest while a further 27 sustained injuries. Police used pepper spray but said they did not deploy tear gas.

Responses to the police’s use of force varied. Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Dream campaign chief, blamed UNM leader Nika Melia for the “storming” of the CEC. Kobakhidze said, “We warn them, that each and every one of them will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Public Defender Nino Lomjaria condemned the use of water cannons against protesters, and said that the police stand in violation of the law for unleashing them without warning.