UPDATE: Opposition holds rally, demands repeat parliamentary elections

Updated at 17:00

Opposition politicians and their supporters have gathered in front of the parliament of Georgia on Rustaveli Avenue today, demanding repeat parliamentary elections be held.

Claiming that the Central Election Commission (CEC) has falsified the results in favour of the ruling Georgian Dream party, opposition politicians are calling on the public to ‘protect their vote’. 

Refusing to take up their parliamentary mandates, opposition parties demand:

• free and fair repeat elections be held
• CEC chair Tamar Zhvania be dismissed and fair composition of election commissions be ensured
• all political detainees be released

The opposition has called on the ruling party leader to speak with them about the above issues by 8 p.m. today along with international partners. 

Calling their demands ‘absurd’, ruling party member Giorgi Kakhiani encouraged the opposition to return to the electoral process and to eventually join the parliamentary life.

Earlier at 15:51

European Georgia majoritarian candidate Elene Khoshtaria said in her address that ‘the entire Georgia has gathered’ in Tbilisi today and united as a multi-party team, they will introduce their plan ‘how to defeat’ the ruling party. 

Elene Khoshtaria has read out the opposition politicians' demands to the ruling party. Photo: 1TV.ge

United National Movement (UNM) leader Grigol Vashadze said as well that the people who are standing at the Rustaveli Avenue now will also protect the votes of those who could not come, but watch the rally in TV. 

Leader of Lelo for Georgia Mamuka Khazaradze also addressed the public, saying ‘this country belongs to us’ and ‘we will not give out our freedom’. 

Coronavirus or any other virus will not harm us like Bidzina Ivanishvili can... We have united against our common enemy” Labour Party leader Shalva Natelashvili said, welcoming the unity of the opposition.

Again referring to the ruling party leader, he said Georgia should follow the example of the United States and get rid of the businessman’s leadership. 

Representatives of other opposition parties which overcome the mandatory 1 per cent threshold for the parliamentary seats, as well as other parties, which did not manage to qualify, have also joined the protest. 

• US Embassy, EU delegation issue joint statement on post-election political developments in Georgia
• Ombudswoman urges opposition to ensure strict observance of rules, coronavirus restrictions during protests

Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has called on opposition parties to ensure strict observance of all recommendations, rules and restrictions during their election protests imposed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. 

The United States Embassy and the European Union delegation to Georgia have also called on all Georgians who plan to exercise their right to assembly ‘to do so peacefully and with respect to COVID-19 precautions’.

More updates will follow...