Current and former presidents of Georgia urge citizens to take to the streets amid election dispute

Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili, has refused to accept the results of the recent parliamentary elections, held on Saturday. She has urged citizens to take to the streets to protest alleged vote-rigging. Former President Mikheil Saakashvili has echoed her call for demonstrations.

«This election was completely falsified. Your votes were stolen. We witnessed a Russian special operation and we were its victims. I refuse to accept these election results. We should not recognize them, as doing so would be equivalent to accepting Russian dominance. I invite everyone to join me on Rustaveli Avenue tomorrow at 7 PM to show the world and ourselves that we do not accept these elections,» Zourabichvili stated.

Mikheil Saakashvili, in turn, expressed support for Zourabichvili’s stance and also called on citizens to demonstrate, asserting that the moment requires action.

«Now is not the time to throw ash on our heads and worry about how we were deceived. Now is the time for a big protest. We must show the world that we fight for freedom and that we are the people who will not accept injustice. We have no time to waste!,» Saakashvili posted on Facebook.

After the nationwide elections on Saturday, the ruling Georgian Dream party — often viewed as pro-Russian — claimed a landslide victory, securing 53% of the vote. However, President Zourabichvili has accused the party of electoral fraud.

Earlier this year, the European Union barred Georgia from progressing toward EU membership, stating that the country had diverged from the European course. This decision followed the introduction of laws in Georgia targeting foreign agents and restricting «LGBT propaganda,» which triggered mass protests. Thousands, including Zourabichvili, rallied in support of EU integration, with the president delivering a speech advocating for closer European ties.