Georgia: Demonstrations likely following Oct. 26 parliamentary elections /update 1

Heightened security and demonstrations are likely across Georgia through at least late October following the nation's Oct. 26 parliamentary election; the country's electoral commission announced early Oct. 27 that the ruling Georgian Dream party had won 54 percent of the vote with 99 percent of precincts counted. Opposition parties and President Salome Zurabishvili have denounced the validity of the result, accusing Georgian Dream of ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and other election violations.

The main opposition parties, namely the Coalition for Change and the United National Movement (UNM), have called for protests in the wake of the result; however, organizers have as yet announced plans only for a protest at the Parliament of Georgia in Tbilisi from 19:00 Oct. 28. The event will likely attract thousands of participants. Further demonstrations will almost certainly take place in central locations of most urban centers across Georgia and will probably draw sizeable crowds. The breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia did not participated in the parliamentary elections and are unlikely to witness unrest.

Previous anti-government protest locations have included:

• Heroes Square, Tbilisi

• Liberty Square, Tbilisi

• Europe Square, Batumi

• Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University

• Central Square, Kutaisi

• City Hall, Kutaisi

Authorities will almost certainly deploy increased security to monitor the gatherings and impose traffic restrictions near affected areas. Localized road travel and transport disruptions are likely near protest sites. Violence is possible between law enforcement officers, demonstrators, and supporters of rival political parties.