Georgia’s opposition have vowed to launch a series of protests as part of a ‘resistance movement’ against the election results. 

Demonstrators gather by Tbilisi’s Court of Appeals in protest organised by opposition parties

Protesters gathered again on Tuesday in front of Tbilisi’s Court of Appeals for another demonstration organised by opposition parties. Members of several opposition groups, including Unity — National Movement, Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia, and For Georgia, participated as well, demanding the annulment of the  election results and the calling for snap elections. Despite last minute venue and time change, attendees said more people are continuing to arrive.

Shortly before the gathering, most of the appeals hearings scheduled for 15:00 today were reportedly consolidated and postponed until tomorrow. 

The rally is taking place under a heavy police presence.

15:05 - The people are just coming ahead of the Court of Appeals. Seems like more is expected to arrive, although the quick place changing which is more far away from the center, the time and weather conditions. Here are some very light raining.#GeorgiaProtests pic.twitter.com/BZLQG1bNDZ

— László Róbert Mézes 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@LaszloRobMezes) November 5, 2024

Girchi announces its own rally

The opposition Girchi party (unrelated to Girchi - More Freedom, a member of the Coalition for Change alliance), which garnered 3% in the 26 October vote according to preliminary results,  announced that it scheduled a demonstration for Saturday in Tbilisi to demand snap elections. Based on new parliamentary rules, only parties that receive more than 5% of the vote will receive mandates. Although strongly critical of other pro-Western political groups, the party shares the stance that the 26 October vote was neither free nor fair, and has focused on the  violation of secrecy as a confirmed major irregularity.

Opposition leaders ‘summoned’ by the Prosecutor's Office

Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of the opposition Lelo party, has announced that he has been summoned by the Prosecutor’s Office as part of an investigation into alleged vote rigging. Khazaradze wrote on his Facebook page that he intends to be interviewed only in front of a magistrate judge.

Also today, the local media reported that Zurab Girchi Japaridze, head of Girchi — More Freedom party, has been similarly summoned by the Prosecutor’s Office.

Japaridze has not reportedly specified if he plans to show up for the interview.

Judge annuls results from 30 precincts citing voter secrecy violations

Judge Vladimer Khuchua has annulled the results of the elections from ‘about 30’ precincts in Tsalka and Tetritskaro, citing a violation of voter secrecy at the voting stations there.

‘Everything requested by the non-governmental organisations was cancelled. There were about 30 polling stations. The court confirmed that confidentiality was violated’, he told IPN.

It is unclear which precincts Khuchua annulled or how many votes this decision will affect. Georgian Dream received 71.55% in Tsalka’s 39 precincts and 66.937% in Tetriskaro’s 40 precincts.

Opposition postpones protest and changes venue

Nika Melia, a leader of the opposition group Coalition for Change, has written on Facebook that the opposition was gathering for a protest in front of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals instead of the Sports Palace. They will gather there at 15:00.

They initially announced their intention to hold a demonstration at the Sports Palace at 14:00.

Key events from yesterday:

• Thousands have marched from Tbilisi’s Station Square to Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament to protest the election results. 
• The leaders of the opposition have vowed to organise more protests.
• Georgian Dream were accused of omitting Abkhazia and South Ossetia from a map of Georgia displayed during a presentation given by Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili. The party has said that the outlines of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the map were of a fainter, different colour, and that they were not visible to cameras.