President challenges election results as Georgia cracks down on protesters

Police conflict pinch pro-West protesters arsenic Zurabishvili demands annulment of October re-election of Georgian Dream government, accused of expanding authoritarianism and Russian links.

Police successful Georgia person arrested much than a twelve group successful a crackdown connected protests against nan re-election of nan Georgian Dream statement successful past month’s parliamentary election.

At slightest 16 group were detained connected Tuesday arsenic constabulary fought pinch protesters astatine a campy successful nan centre of nan capital, Tbilisi. Representatives for President Salome Zurabishvili announced that nan pro-Western caput of authorities had launched a ineligible situation to nan election, which handed nan ruling Georgian Dream a 4th word successful power.

Zurabishvili has asked nan law tribunal to annul nan results of nan October 26 ballot “over widespread violations of voting universality and ballot secrecy”, according to her lawyer Eka Beselia.

Leaders of 3 of nan 4 guidance parties that won seats person called for daily protests to forestall nan caller convention of parliament from opening later successful November.

Georgian Dream’s opponents formed nan statement arsenic pro-Russian and opportunity its continued norm will torpedo nan country’s chances of joining nan European Union.

A fewer 100 protesters had erected tents and occupied a main avenue successful Tbilisi for 2 nights until they were dispersed connected Tuesday morning.

Georgian demonstrators look rule enforcement officers during a protestation successful Tbilisi [Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP]

Video showed constabulary throwing immoderate protesters to nan crushed and dragging them on nan pavement. Some officers utilized capsicum spray from adjacent range.

Georgia’s Interpress news agency said 16 group had been detained but that 3 had already been released.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said protesters had illegally blocked postulation and urged them to time off nan area. It did not mention immoderate arrests.

Coalition for Change, 1 of nan 4 guidance groups, said respective of its members had been arrested and immoderate suffered injuries.

A cameraman for Mtavari Arkhi, an guidance tv channel, was besides detained, nan outlet said.

Statistically impossible

The Central Election Commission connected Saturday officially confirmed Georgian Dream’s triumph pinch 54 percent of nan vote, though 2 US pollsters commissioned by nan guidance person said nan consequence is statistically impossible.

Widely seen arsenic pivotal for nan state of astir 3.7 cardinal people, nan predetermination offered a prime betwixt further European integration nether nan pro-Western guidance aliases person ties pinch Moscow nether a governing statement that critics opportunity is progressively authoritarian.

Observer groups, including nan 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation successful Europe, person said violations specified arsenic ballot stuffing, elector intimidation and bribery could person swayed nan election, but stopped short of saying it was outright stolen.

In nan look of wide suspicion, Russia has vigorously denied immoderate interference successful Georgia’s affairs.