The European Union has called for an investigation into election "irregularities” in Georgia’s disputed parliamentary elections, as Pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili refused to recognise the result that saw the ruling Georgian Dream win the vote.
The opposition groups, who have said the election has been stolen, fear the ruling party will move the country towards Russia’s orbit, creating a roadblock in its EU accession process.
After meeting with opposition leaders in Tbilisi, Zurabishvili said there had been a "total falsification of the
election”.
"It was a total falsification of elections … I don’t recognise these elections. I call on people to stand together and say that we don’t recognise these elections,” Zourabichvili said in a televised address on Sunday.
Jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili also called for mass protests.
"Certainly, no one should enter parliament! Now is the time for mass protests. We must show the world that we are fighting for freedom and that we are a people who will not tolerate injustice,” he said on Facebook.
EU Council chief Charles Michel wrote on X that the authorities should "swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof.
"These alleged irregularities must be seriously clarified and addressed,” he said on Sunday.
International observers said Saturday’s election was "marred by an uneven playing field, pressure and tension”.
A mission from the European Parliament also expressed concern about "democratic backsliding”, saying it had seen instances of "ballot box stuffing” and the "physical assault” of observers.
But incumbent Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has rejected accusations of vote rigging in an interview with the BBC after his Georgian Dream party won the election with more than 54 percent votes. Kobakhidze has been accused of moving the country towards Russia. (Agencies)