Post-election Rallies: Opposition Vows Daily Protests until Fresh Vote is Called

Rallies have been held since the announcement of the October 31 Parliamentary Election results in Georgia, which declared the ruling party Georgian Dream as victor. Opposition members and supporters claim that the election was rigged, and demand a re-run of the elections and the resignation of the Central Election Commission (CEC) chairperson, Tamar Zhvania.

Protest rallies have been held daily in the country throughout the week, in front of district election commissions (DECs), Parliament, and the CEC building.

On November 5, seven opposition activists, including the UNM representative Zviad Kuprava, were detained for disobedience to police during rallies held in front of DECs in Tbilisi, where the Central Election Commission was reviewing the election-related appeals.

Later, the detained activists were released from custody.

The next day, protests resumed in front of ruling party leader Bidzina Ivanishvili’s business center in Tbilisi, where gunshots were heard, which, as demonstrators claimed, aimed at intimidating activists. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said an investigation had been launched.

Sunday, November 8, turned out to be one of the tensest and most dramatic days in recent times, with police resorting to using water cannon twice against demonstrators gathered in front of the CEC to protest the election results.

Several people were injured, including a TV Pirveli cameraman, who then needed eye surgery to save his eyesight. Cameras and other equipment of media representatives sustained water damage.

International media outlets, among them Reuters, the BBC, and Deutsche Welle, reported on the rally dispersal, with such headlines as “Georgian police clash with election protesters” and “Election protesters clash with police in Tbilisi.”

"Police in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, fired water cannons at crowds protesting against the results of last week's parliamentary election," the BBC reported.

The same day, demonstrators in Batumi joined the protest against the results of the election, going further by accusing the police of being politically biased and encouraging them to stand by their fellow citizens.

Nika Melia, a leader of the National Movement party, called on the participants of the protest rally in front of Parliament to picket the CEC.

"Let's stay and set a curfew in the CEC building. No-one can enter and no-one can leave until new elections are scheduled. Tamar Zhvania should go home," Melia said, adding that this was part of a plan drawn up by the opposition.

The next day, opposition members and supporters again gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in front of Parliament to express their protest, and a confrontation took place between law enforcers and Shame Movement activists. Three activists of the Shame Movement were detained for wanting to light a fire near the parliament building to warm themselves during their overnight vigil.

Despite the newly imposed restriction on movement from 22:00 to 5:00 due to coronavirus, the Shame Movement declared disobedience and spent the night on Rustaveli Avenue, along with several opposition leaders.

Up to 20 people were fined for violating the restrictions on movement, including opposition leaders Khatia Dekanoidze, Elene Khoshtaria and Roman Gotsiridze.

Those fined say they are not going to pay. One protester, who was fined GEL 2000 by the patrol police for violating the regulations, demonstratively took to the stage in front of the parliament building and tore up the penalty. Leaders of the opposition then declared that all such fines issued during the protest will be appealed.

On November 10, Grigol Vashadze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, released a statement regarding the ongoing political processes and street rallies in the country, calling on all opposition parties to immediately move the process to the negotiating table.

“Let's replace the street with a tribune of legislators of all levels,” he urged.

“Grigol Vashadze's statement was not a position agreed with the party leaders or the political council,” the other opposition leaders immediately claimed.

Later, Vashadze released an explanation for his statement. “Citizens' protests must continue, but a political component must be added to this protest immediately through the mediation of strategic allies in the form of negotiations on the implementation of the principles of fair elections. Until the negotiations are successful, we will neither participate in the second round nor enter Parliament. Once and for all, we should all work hard so that in the future, street protests do not replace normal processes due to election fraud,” he said.

The united opposition will hold its next rally on Rustaveli Avenue on Saturday, November 14, from 15:00.

By Ana Dumbadze