Government deploys riot police to disperse opposition rally
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, November 9
The government deployed riot police to disperse the opposition's protest rally in front of the CEC building yesterday, on November 8. The riot police fired water cannons and tear gas at the protestors who claim the 2020 elections have been rigged by the government and the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Tamar Zhvania.
In several different cities of Georgia, activists have gathered to protest the rigging of the 2020 elections. They claim the elections were not fair, gathering to defend their voices.
Protesters have gathered in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, and other cities of Georgia. In connection with the rallies, the United States Embassy and the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia have published special statements.
They call on Georgian people who are exercising their right to assembly to do so peacefully and respect the Covid-19 precautions. They call on the authorities of the country to provide a peaceful and safe environment for those who are participating in the protests.
“Georgia needs a parliament able to play its role to address the immediate challenges of economic turmoil, a pandemic, and regional tensions, as well as to enact additional reforms to improve the country’s democratic, legal and electoral processes for the future. All political sides need urgently to take responsibility for ensuring such an outcome,” reads the statement.
The leader of political party Lelo, Mamuka Khazaradze stated that even though there are representatives of different parties leading the rallies, their main goal remains the same.
The former president of the country Giorgi Margvelashvili has also attended the rally on Sunday. Margvelashvili addressed the international community and partners of the country, calling on them to stand with the Georgian people.
Opposition parties do not recognize the election results and declare them illegitimate. All the parties that overcame the 1% barrier refused to participate in the second round, rejecting the seats in the parliament.
The government names the threat of spreading Covid-19 as the reason for the opposition to stop the rallies immediately.
