Tbilisi: Georgia’s parliament on Monday approved the mandate of its newly elected lawmakers as protests continue in the capital Tbilisi over last month’s election results. Multiple local media outlets, including public broadcaster 1TV, reported that during a session boycotted by the opposition, a measure to recognize the credentials of all lawmakers in the 150-seat parliament passed 88-0.
According to Anadolu Agency, the reports added that Shalva Papuashvili was reelected parliament speaker, while lawmakers also elected new vice speakers and parliamentary committee chairs. The assembly convened amid opposition rallies in Tbilisi taking place since Sunday to protest the parliament’s legitimacy.
On Sunday, the Interior Ministry warned those organizing and taking part in the protests ‘not to cross the line’ on the law on assemblies and to refrain from unlawful actions. ‘Otherwise, the police will take all appropriate legal measures to foil illegal activities,’ the statement warned.
President Salome Zourabichv
ili also criticized the parliamentary session as ‘unconstitutional.’ ‘I refused to call the 1st session and the Constitution does not recognize anyone to act as substitute,’ Zourabichvili said on X late Sunday, adding that the “massive electoral fraud” undermined its legitimacy.
The parliamentary session is the first to take place since the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party won an 89-seat majority in parliament with nearly 54% of the vote in an Oct. 26 election, according to official results. Georgian Dream officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the party’s honorary chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, have welcomed the results.
Zourabichvili said she did not recognize the results, alleging that the election was marred by Russian interference. Opposition parties have branded the election ‘stolen.’ Russia has opposed Georgia, a former Soviet republic, from becoming more pro-Western. Georgian Dream is a pro-Russian party.