Protests Erupt in Tbilisi Over Election Legitimacy

In Tbilisi, Georgia, thousands of protesters, led by the opposition, are actively contesting the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament, following the controversial October 26 elections which the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed to have won with 54% of the vote. Opposition parties, including the UNM-Unity coalition, have declared the election results as fraudulent and are demanding a rerun under international supervision, refusing to enter the new parliament. Demonstrations have escalated into a sit-in outside the parliament building, with protesters blocking Rustaveli Avenue and vowing to remain until the parliament convenes on November 25. President Salome Zourabichvili has sided with the opposition, calling for demonstrations against the election results, while the government insists the elections were fair despite some acknowledged irregularities. The outcome of these protests, which are the largest since the elections, could lead to a significant political crisis if mishandled by authorities. The situation is drawing attention from international observers as tensions mount within the country.