Georgia Protests Over Election, Russian Interference Alleged

Protests have erupted in Georgia following a controversial parliamentary election held on October 26, which the ruling Georgian Dream party won with 53.93% of the vote amid allegations of Russian interference and electoral fraud. The opposition, led by the United National Movement (UNM), has denounced the results as illegitimate, and tensions escalated when an opposition member splashed black paint on the Central Election Commission chair during a session confirming the results. The European Union and the United States have called for investigations into the alleged irregularities. These developments are seen as pivotal for Georgia's EU aspirations, which were halted after the ruling party passed laws targeting Western-backed NGOs and LGBTQ+ rights. Protests have spread, with significant demonstrations in Tbilisi and ongoing student protests at universities. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has joined calls for a fresh vote, while the ruling party insists the elections were fair.