Georgia's PM rejects election redo amid Tbilisi unrest
Georgia's Prime Minister, Irakli Kobachidze, firmly announced that there will be no repeat parliamentary elections, despite the protests and controversies surrounding the results of the October elections.
Irakli Kobachidze, Prime Minister of Georgia, stated that he does not plan to organize repeat parliamentary elections, even though the October vote sparked a wave of protests.
According to official results, the elections were won by the Georgian Dream party, which recently suspended discussions on membership in the European Union until 2028. This decision faced strong criticism and sparked protests in Tbilisi.
Despite the results being confirmed by the Georgian Electoral Commission, the pro-Western opposition did not recognize them, claiming irregularities occurred.
The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, supported the protesters, calling for a repeat of the elections. Zurabishvili emphasized that the current parliament is not legitimate and stated that her mandate will continue until a new, legal parliament is elected.
Protests in Tbilisi
Since Thursday, nighttime protests against the policies of the Georgian Dream have been ongoing in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi. Demonstrators oppose the decision to suspend talks with the EU, leading to regular clashes with the police. Officers use water cannons, pepper spray, and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
When asked about the possibility of repeat elections, Prime Minister Kobachidze responded briefly, "Of course not." His stance remains unchanged despite growing social and political tensions in the country.
