Georgia's election turmoil: Opposition challenges ruling party victory

According to the CEC, the opposition forces received the following results: Coalition for Change - approximately 10.92%, Unity bloc - 10.12%, Strong Georgia - 8.78%, and the For Georgia party received 7.76% of the votes. The remaining groups did not exceed the 5% electoral threshold.

The opposition, however, won among voters casting ballots outside the borders of Georgia. The Coalition for Change garnered 29%, Unity - 20.8%, Strong Georgia - 14%, and For Georgia - 8.4%. Georgian Dream received 17.7% of votes abroad.

Even during Saturday's voting, the Georgian opposition announced that it did not recognise the results presented by the CEC. A coalition of non-governmental organisations monitoring Saturday's parliamentary elections declared that they demand the annulment of the official voting results and accused the government of engaging in a "complex process of electoral fraud."

Election observers from the "My Voice" coalition sent around 2,000 civic observers to polling stations nationwide.

At a briefing, the organisation presented its stance on the parliamentary elections. In light of the atmosphere during the pre-election period and the fraudulent procedures used on election day, as well as the unprecedented pressure on voters' will and instances of violence, we believe that the preliminary results published by the Central Election Commission do not reflect the will of the citizens of Georgia—considers the "My Voice" coalition.

We will demand the annulment of the election results - was announced.

Later in the evening, leaders of the opposition United National Movement and the Coalition for Change also stated that they do not accept the election results.

The ruling group has been accused for years of distancing Georgia from democratic standards and sympathising with Russia.

Source: PAP