Georgian opposition calls for more protests as exit pollster says official result 'impossible'

This is the most direct and ancient form of democracy, where a given government refuses to listen to its own people at the ballot box,

Tina Bokuchava, leader of the United National Movement opposition party, told Reuters

We will gather on Monday at 7 p.m. ... and tell you there our plan of action. In detail, how at home or abroad, within the legal framework, peacefully, but via organization and with a concrete result, we will continue our protest,

Ana Dolidze of the Strong Georgia opposition bloc told a press conference of the three opposition parties

Final tallies only slightly changed at some nine percent of recounted polling stations,

a spokeswoman said

As the European Union continues to evaluate Georgia, we also continue to work on the issues provided for in the association agreement. This is what European integration is all about. It has not stopped and will not stop,

said senior Georgian Dream member Shalva Papuashvili

Any campaign aimed at undermining the elections directly impedes Georgia’s EU path. Those driving such a campaign against Georgia’s European future should clarify the basis of their claims. If there is validity to these accusations, relevant authorities must conduct a thorough investigation,

the senior ruling party member added

It remains on hold as long as Georgia continues to move away from the European Union, our values and our precedents,

said Herczynski, recalling Georgia’s backsliding in fighting disinformation and polarization and in protecting human rights

Due to the course of action taken by the Georgian government, EU leaders have stopped Georgia’s access process,

the EU’s Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski said Wednesday as the EU published its final enlargement report

Salome Samadashviliopposition lawmaker

If somebody thinks that they can fool the Georgian people or our international partners into believing that Bidzina will investigate his own election fraud, they are mistaken. Nobody can be fooled,

Samadashvili said

Irakli Kobakhidzeprime Minister

Whether it's Salome Zourabichvili or anyone else, if they have any evidence, they should submit it to the Prosecutor's Office and the relevant authorities instead of making baseless oral statements about events that never happened. This is their responsibility,

Kobakhidze said

That is why we are saying that the investigation should be conducted by an international mission with the adequate mandate and qualifications. Until this is done, this election cannot and will not have legitimacy or trust."

She added

However, I am certain that, since she has no facts, she won't dare to go to the Prosecutor's Office or provide them with any information regarding the accusations she is making verbally."

He added

We want to live in European civilization. We will fight until a free, united, independent Georgia wins

the organisers said

We want to go to the European Union with our customs, our traditions, our mentality,

the 56-year-old said, passing freshly-baked bread to customers from his shop window

The main thing is that we don't have a war,

69-year-old Otar Shaverdashvili, another Isani resident, said before the vote

We've had peace these 12 years in Georgia,

said Sergo, a resident of the capital Tbilisi who has voted for Georgian Dream in every election since the party rose to power in 2012.

We're here to say out loud that Georgia is a very European country and our future is in the EU, in the West,

she said

If someone asks you to choose between war and the European Union and you have this kind of choice, then of course people will choose the status quo,

he said