The ruling Georgian Dream party claimed a majority in Saturday's election with opposition parties claiming that the vote had been "rigged."
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Georgia’s president said on Sunday that she did not recognize the results of this weekend’s parliamentary vote, which election officials say was won by the ruling party, adding that the country fell victim to a “Russian special operation” aimed at moving it off a path towards Europe.
Standing alongside opposition leaders, President Salome Zourabichvili urged Georgians to rally Monday night in Tblisi to protest what she called a “total falsification, a total stealing of your votes.”
The news raises the prospect of further political turmoil in the South Caucasus nation.
“This election cannot be recognized, because it is the recognition of Russia’s intrusion here, Georgia’s subordination to Russia,” Zourabichvili said.
The Georgian Central Election Commision said Sunday that the ruling party Georgian Dream got 54.8% of Saturday’s vote with almost 100% of ballots counted.
Many Georgians viewed Saturday's vote as a referendum on the opportunity to join the EU – as Brussels had suspended Georgia’s EU membership process indefinitely because of a Russia-style ‘foreign influence law’ passed in June.
The election campaign was dominated by foreign policy and marked by a bitter fight for votes and allegations of a smear campaign.
European electoral observers said the election took place in a “divisive” environment marked by intimidation and instances of vote buying, double voting and physical violence.