Opposition Holds Rally, Slams Presidential Election Results

United Opposition, which is made up of several parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties, held a protest rally on Sunday asking for the abolition of the presidential election results.

The opposition parties claim they are going to apply to court to demand the results of the presidential elections be declared void.

Grigol Vashadze, the former presidential candidate of the opposition, who came second in the race after the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) supported Salome Zurabishvili, now president-elect of Georgia, stated the government falsified the elections.

He presented a number of ID cards at the rally which belong to already deceased people, claiming they were used in the Guria region to falsify the elections.

"We do not recognize the results of the elections. Georgia has no president - the criminal dream and Bidzina Ivanishvili have a president," Vashadze said. "It was not an election. It was a criminal operation against the Georgian people," he added.

In addition, Vashadze proposed the government set up a working group until December 16, “in order to move the country out of the political crisis constitutionally and legally.”

He added that the next steps of the United Opposition will depend on the government’s response.

“We demand early parliamentary elections and fundamental changes to the electoral system, which will completely change the corrupt electoral administration – starting from the Central Election Commission. We know that these commissions should be staffed by civil society, opposition parties, and international experts,” Vashadze said.

The ruling party commented on the proposal of the opposition, saying such statements are “comical.”

The Vice-Speaker of the Parliament, Gia Volsky, said it is the United National Movement which tries to mislead the people.

The next rally of the opposition has been scheduled for December 16.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: Netgazeti