Georgia election body confirms ruling party’s disputed win amid protests

Head of Central Electoral Commission is doused pinch achromatic overgarment during unruly convention arsenic protesters gathered outside.

Thousands of group are protesting successful Georgia aft nan predetermination committee confirmed nan governing statement arsenic nan victor of past month’s disputed parliamentary polls.

The Caucasus nation’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) said connected Saturday that nan Russia-friendly Georgian Dream party won 53.93 percent of nan vote, against 37.79 percent garnered by an confederation of pro-Western guidance groups.

The last results springiness Georgian Dream 89 seats successful nan 150-member parliament, which nan guidance has refused to participate based connected allegations of tampered results.

During a confrontational convention of nan predetermination commission, guidance typical Davit Kirtadze splashed achromatic overgarment connected nan CEC chief, Giorgi Kalandarishvili.

He shouted that nan committee caput has been moving Georgia towards Russia alternatively of nan European Union. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said it has initiated a criminal investigation against Kirtadze.

The ministry besides said constabulary detained 3 antigovernment demonstrators astatine a protestation extracurricular nan commission’s headquarters.

There person been a drawstring of protests drafting tens of thousands pursuing nan October 26 parliamentary vote.

There were wide student protests astatine universities connected Friday evening successful large cities crossed Georgia, including astatine Tbilisi State University, which lasted until aft midnight.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and nan president person besides been clashing, pinch President Salome Zourabishvili describing nan ballot arsenic illegitimate and accusing Russia of interference.

The EU and nan United States person said nan predetermination must beryllium investigated for “irregularities”. Russia has denied immoderate meddling.

Kobakhidze has insisted nan elections were free and fair. He asserted that parliament would convene wrong 10 days aft nan merchandise of nan results by CEC.

Last week, nan premier curate threatened to prohibition each main guidance parties.

Before nan election, Brussels had warned that nan ballot would find Georgia’s chances of joining nan EU.

Georgia has been a campaigner for EU rank since past year, but its soul powerfulness struggles person stalled nan process. Issues specified arsenic authorities curbing LGBTQ rights and a “foreign influence” rule to restrict NGOs and nan media – which critics accused of favouring Russia – person affected nan effort.

Protests person besides raged this week successful Georgia’s breakaway territory of Abkhazia complete a projected measurement that would let Russians to bargain spot there. On Saturday, protesters refused to time off nan parliament building, which they had stormed connected Friday.

Source

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Al Jazeera and news agencies