Georgian opposition calls for boycott of Parliament as thousands rally in Tbilisi against election outcome

Thousands of Georgians gathered on Tbilisi’s central Rustaveli Avenue outside the country’s parliament on Monday to protest the outcome of parliamentary elections held two days earlier on 26th October. Despite opinion polls and a number of exit polls indicating support at around 40 percent, the ruling Georgian Dream government was declared victor with 53.94 percent.

Numerous violations were recorded on election day but the head of the observation mission from the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) – Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) refused to be drawn on whether they significantly influenced the outcome. The mission’s task was to observe and publish a report on their observations later.

The vote was seen as crucial as political polarisation reaches unprecedented levels, threatening social cohesion and political stability in the country. The opposition claims that Georgian Dream is attempting to move closer to Russia while the government claims the opposition is serving the interest of those in the West that want to see a second front opened against Russia in the South Caucasus.

Georgia’s president, Salome Zourabichvili, called last weekend’s election illegitimate and rallied opposition groups on Monday. Certainly, the European Union and United States have been incredibly vocal in their opposition to the current government and have sanctioned officials and cut financial assistance while Brussels has suspended Georgia’s EU accession process to possible membership in the distant future.

The number of those attending the demonstration was significant but nowhere close to critical mass or even matched previous rallies. That could mean that fears the government and opposition would resolve the post-election situation violently on the streets is less likely. The opposition instead prefers to boycott the new parliament and expects that the international community will not recognise the vote.

For now, though critical, many western governments continue to express their concern but call on the government to investigate claims of vote rigging and to take the necessary actions in instances that are proven. Nonetheless, Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán, was quick to congratulate is Georgian Dream counterpart and visited Tbilisi two days following the vote in a controversial show of support.
Also among those congratulating Georgian Dream in no uncertain terms were the leaders of immediate neighbours, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Ilham Aliyev.

Though it is too early to conclude categorically, it is likely that the need to maintain good relations with Tbilisi trumps any concerns while the 5 November U.S. presidential elections will soon shift the attention of the international media far away from the small South Caucasus nation. Meanwhile, most opposition supporters in Georgia appear resigned to and depressed by the outcome of the vote.