Georgia: Anti-government protest planned in Tbilisi November 14 /update 4

Event

The United National Movement party has called for a large-scale anti-government rally in Tbilisi on Saturday, November 14, amid continued unrest linked to the October 31 parliamentary election. Protesters will reportedly gather on Rustaveli Avenue from 15:00 (local time) and will continue until 22:00, when a curfew introduced due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will come into force. Following reports that some activists may choose to remain in the area beyond 22:00, organizers stated that this was a matter of individual choice.

A heightened security presence and localized disruptions are likely in the vicinity of the protest site.

Context

The Georgian Dream party were declared the winners of the October 31 parliamentary election after winning 48.15 percent of the vote. The leader of the Movement for Liberty - European Georgia, Davit Bakradze, stated that he believed that the vote was neither free nor fair and that his party rejected the results. Police fired water cannon at protesters who gathered in the vicinity of the Central Election Commission (CEC) headquarters on Sunday, November 8, to demand a re-run of the election and the resignation of the head of the CEC. Protests continued in the city on Monday, November 9.

Advice

Those in Georgia are advised to monitor developments, avoid any protest and demonstration locations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.