Zurabishvili calls for new elections amid ongoing protests against the government

On the eve, thousands of Georgians blocked Freedom Square in Tbilisi. They carried EU flags, protesting against the Georgian Dream party, which won the elections and is often called "pro-Russian." Law enforcement officers threatened the protesters with fines, saying that they were identifying the participants of the action.

Parliamentary elections in Georgia were held on October 26. According to official data, the Georgian Dream won 54% of the votes. Numerous violations were found at the polling stations - all opposition parties and the country's president did not recognize the election results and called on citizens to participate in the protests.

Earlier, the Georgian opposition promised to hold rallies in Tbilisi every day after the parliamentary elections on October 26.

After a meeting with EU parliamentarians, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said that the Georgian government "practically captured all the institutions of this country." She also expressed regret about the missed opportunities after receiving the status of a candidate for joining the European Union.

"We are entering a crisis. Judging by yesterday's statements by the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, it is obvious what decision will be made. There can be no surprises here, the crisis is obvious, and our friends are here to find and achieve ways for Georgia to get out of this crisis," Zurabishvili said.

The Georgian President is convinced that the only correct way out of the crisis is new elections. Only in this way, in her opinion, will Georgia receive "a legitimate parliament, a legitimate government and a legitimate new president when the time comes."

It is noteworthy that the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili refused to meet with the heads of the Foreign Relations Committees of the parliaments of Germany, Finland, Sweden, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, who are in Tbilisi. He explained his decision by the intention of the European countries to "sow chaos" in Georgia.

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