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Georgia’s pro-Western president calls for mass street protests Georgia’s pro-Western president calls for mass street protests
(about 11 hours later)
Salome Zourabichvili has said she does not recognize the Saturday parliamentary election results and alleged that Russia was involved Salome Zourabichvili has said she does not recognize Saturday’s parliamentary election results and blames Russia
Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili has announced that she does not recognize the results of Saturday’s national parliamentary election and has called on people to join protests against it. According to official results, the ruling Georgian Dream party received almost 54% of the vote, while various opposition forces managed to garner between 11% and 3%. Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili has announced that she does not recognize the results of Saturday’s national parliamentary election and has called on people to join protests against the outcome. According to official results, the ruling Georgian Dream party received almost 54% of the vote, while various opposition forces managed to garner between 11% and 3%.
Earlier, the president claimed that the vote had been won by what she called “European Georgia,” despite alleged “attempts to rig elections.” On Sunday, she held a series of meetings with various opposition parties. Zourabichvili blasted the vote as “total fraud” and branded it “Russian elections.” Georgia had become, she claimed, ”victim of a Russian special operation, a new form of hybrid warfare, which was carried out against our people, … our country.”
Several pro-Western opposition forces, including the Unity-National Movement (UNM) and ‘Coalition for Change’ announced on the same day that they would not be joining the new parliament, as they did not recognize the vote results either. The parties’ leaders accused Georgian Dream of “stealing the European future” of the country and even supposedly staging a “constitutional coup.” The president’s claims contrast with findings from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which did not observe significant irregularities. Despite Zourabichvili's accusations, the OSCE assessed that the voting process was largely in line with international standards.
UNM head Tina Bokuchava also vowed to “fight like never before” to reverse the election results and called the meeting with Zourabichvili “very important.” The president herself called what was described as an “emergency briefing,” where she announced her decision not to recognize the voting results. Earlier, the president claimed that the vote had been won by what she called “European Georgia,” despite alleged “attempts to rig elections.” On Sunday, she held a series of 'emergency briefings' with various opposition parties.
Zourabichvili blasted the vote as “total fraud” and branded it “Russian elections.” According to the president, Georgia had become “victim of a Russian special operation, a new form of hybrid warfare, which was carried out against our people, … our country.” Several pro-Western opposition forces, including the Unity-National Movement (UNM) and ‘Coalition for Change’ announced on the same day that they would not be joining the new parliament, citing their rejection of the election results. The parties’ leaders accused Georgian Dream of “stealing the European future” of the country and even staging a “constitutional coup.”
UNM head Tina Bokuchava vowed to “fight like never before” to reverse the election results and called her meeting with Zourabichvili “very important.” 
The president also declared herself to be “the only independent institution left in this state.” She then called on her fellow Georgians to join protests on Monday evening “to show… the world that we do not recognize this election.”The president also declared herself to be “the only independent institution left in this state.” She then called on her fellow Georgians to join protests on Monday evening “to show… the world that we do not recognize this election.”
The politician was born in Paris and worked for the French Foreign Ministry for many years, including as France’s ambassador to Georgia, before getting citizenship in the country in 2004 and being quickly promoted to the position of the nation’s top diplomat, a post she held for about a year. Born in Paris, Zourabichvili worked for the French Foreign Ministry for many years, including as ambassador to Georgia, before acquiring citizenship in 2004 and being quickly promoted to the position of the nation’s top diplomat, a post she held for about a year.
“I did not come to this country for this,” Zourabichvili stated, referring to the election results, which she equated with “Georgia’s submission to Russia.” “I did not come to this country for this,” Zourabichvili stated, referring to the election results, which she equated with “Georgia’s submission to Russia.” 
“I am not one person, I am an institution that represents the population, and I want to … tell them that we must stand together and declare that we do not recognize these elections,” the president said.“I am not one person, I am an institution that represents the population, and I want to … tell them that we must stand together and declare that we do not recognize these elections,” the president said.
Previously, Zourabichvili has also supported other protests in Georgia, including against ‘foreign agents’ and “LGBT propaganda’ laws she branded as “Russian-style.”Previously, Zourabichvili has also supported other protests in Georgia, including against ‘foreign agents’ and “LGBT propaganda’ laws she branded as “Russian-style.”
During the briefing, the president appealed to foreign nations, calling on them to “protect Georgia” and the “geopolitical balance in this region” by not establishing any ties with the new government. During the 'emergency briefing', she appealed to foreign nations to “protect Georgia” and the “geopolitical balance in this region” by not establishing any ties with the new government.
Under Georgian law, a simple 76-strong majority is needed to pick the next prime minister and cabinet. According to Georgian Dream chairman Mamuka Mdinaradze, his party could get as many as 90 of the national chamber’s 150 seats after the vote.Under Georgian law, a simple 76-strong majority is needed to pick the next prime minister and cabinet. According to Georgian Dream chairman Mamuka Mdinaradze, his party could get as many as 90 of the national chamber’s 150 seats after the vote.
Commenting on Zourabichvili’s statements, Mdinaradze also said that “Georgia no longer has a president. Georgia has an agent, a leader of the radical opposition.”Commenting on Zourabichvili’s statements, Mdinaradze also said that “Georgia no longer has a president. Georgia has an agent, a leader of the radical opposition.”