"To everyone here, you did not lose the election. Your vote was stolen, and they tried to take your future, but no one has the right to do that. Here is the flag under which Georgia first declared freedom and independence in the modern era - a flag whose legacy lives on in our current flag. Before both flags, I swear to stand by you every step of the way on this European path. Until we reach Europe’s doorstep - not just our dream, but our reality and our future," said Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to the citizens gathered at the rally in front of Parliament.
News
Trending stories
- 1 Marauding Kadyrovites Among Masked Raiders in Tbilisi - Editor's Column
- 2 Presidential Candidate Mikheil Kavelashvili Lacks Higher Education
- 3 Fischer: Heidelberg Cement Exits Georgian Market, One of Germany's Largest Investments
- 4 Putin Expresses Surprise at Georgian Authorities' Courage
- 5 12 Found Dead in Bedroom of Indian Restaurant in Gudauri
- 6 TV Pirveli Journalist Mariam Gaprindashvili Injured During Rally
As Salome Zourabichvili noted, no one recognizes the results of the parliamentary elections except “one man.”
“You've probably seen all the evaluations and messages of support coming from various European countries, as well as from America. Look at the very clear statement from the Secretary of State. Everyone is telling us one thing: no one recognizes the current election except for the one man who conducted it here. But everyone also tells us to continue the investigation and see it through to the end. We can even gain international support to ensure this investigation is thorough, leaving no questions unanswered. Our monitoring organizations, non-governmental organizations, and political parties are actively involved in this.
Together, with your help, and with the evidence many of you have, we need to build a complete picture of how this unprecedented, systematic theft of the vote was executed - so massively and pre-planned. This was a large-scale operation that took away our votes, our parliament, and our constitution. Yet we must keep working to overturn those results and demand accountability. This is just the first stage.
I am certain that the political parties, following my speech, will tell you how they plan to act. We stand together. No one will accept this unjust result. Together, we will peacefully defend your constitutional right to have your voice heard. People like me have only our voice - the voice of the people, the voice of the nation - and we must carry it forward. And we will, I am sure of it,” Zourabichvili said.
The President emphasized that now is not the time for pessimism, hand-wringing, or resignation; now is the time to calmly, purposefully defend your votes.
“There was also a huge number of votes from the diaspora. The votes that reached the precincts clearly reflected the will of the Georgian people, but too few were allowed through to influence the results recorded here. The results written here will not be the final results. We will achieve this together.
Thank you all for what you have done over these days and what we will continue to do together. It is up to the political parties to present a political vision. They are diverse, not some artificial unity. The Georgian Charter and our European path are our only solution, our only alternative, and everyone is united behind this. If you vote, vote for them, vote for Europe, vote for the future - vote for Georgia,” said Salome Zourabichvili.
As per data from the Central Election Commission of Georgia (with 99.968% of precincts counted), the Georgian Dream party received 53.92% of the votes in the parliamentary elections. This result is not recognized as legitimate by opposition parties that crossed the electoral threshold: Coalition for Change (11.037%), Unity – National Movement (10.164%), Strong Georgia (8.814%), and Gakharia For Georgia (7.771%). On October 28, at a rally in front of Parliament, one of the leaders of Unity – National Movement, Giorgi Vashadze, stated that their demand is for new elections to be held under the oversight of an International Election Administration.
