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Tbilisi Riot Police Move in on Protests Against Election Results
Riot police with water cannons moved on Sunday to disperse protesters outside the central elections commission building in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. The marchers denounced last month’s election as rigged, and called for a new vote and the resignation of the commission chief Tamar Zhvania.
www.bloomberg.com
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Georgia: Election protesters clash with police in Tbilisi
Police in Georgia used water cannons and tear gas on protesters demanding a rerun of the nation's recent tightly contested elections. The opposition has accused the ruling party of vote-buying and threats against voters.
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters gathered in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Sunday, rejecting the result of the ex-Soviet nation's tightly-contested parliamentary elections last month.
Demonstrators who gathered outside the Central Election Commission (CEC) building were confronted by police. Live television footage showed riot police firing water cannons without warning after demonstrators threatened to blockade the building.
Earlier, some 45,000 opposition supporters rallied outside the Georgian parliament, denouncing alleged fraud in the October 31 election in which the ruling Georgia Dream party claimed victory.
The demonstrators, most of them wearing protective masks due to coronavirus concerns, vowed daily protests until a fresh vote was called.
Opposition rejects election results
The CEC said the ruling Georgia Dream party won 48.23% of the vote in parliamentary elections on October 31. The Largest opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), took 27.18%.
