TBILISI, Georgia's President Salome Zourabishvili has called on people to gather today to protest the outcome of the parliamentary elections at the parliament building in Tbilisi on Monday.
"I want to invite you to Rusraveli Avenue on Monday evening at 7pm (15:00 CET) to tell the world and ourselves that we do not recognise these elections," she told a briefing yesterday, adding that it would be a peaceful protest.
Zourabishvili refused to recognise Saturday's parliamentary elections in the country, which were won by the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party, calling them completely rigged.
"We saw something very unusual. It was a total fraud, a total theft of your votes, where all means were used to rig the election," "As the only remaining independent institution in the country, I want to say that I do not recognise this election." she said at the briefing.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has previously stated that no one will be able to present any facts that would prove that the country's parliamentary elections were illegitimate. He also said that Zourabikhvili would not be able to block the first session of the new parliament.
Meanwhile, the President has described the current government as illegitimate. "I would like to address our partners, both European and American. I have heard statements from various parties. We are very grateful for these statements. But everybody outside the country must know that the defense of Georgia, the defense of Georgia's future in this region, the defense of the geopolitical balance, the defense of the European future of this region is the defense of the people, but not making contacts with this illegitimate government," She said.
According to the Central Election Commission, after counting the ballots from 99.64 % polling stations, the Georgian Dream won 54.08 % votes, the Coalition for Change won 10.92 %, the United National Movement party won 10.12 %, the Strong Georgia coalition won 8.78 %, and the Gacharia for Georgia party won 7.76 %. All these parties refuse to recognise the results of the vote. The turnout was 58.94 %.
TASS / Alexander Patrin / gnews.cz-jav
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