The President of Georgia says she will remain in office until a “legitimate parliament” is elected

“I want to tell the public that even here, with the president, who is the only independent, legitimate institution, there is a national consensus. Society and political parties will meet with me tomorrow. Together we manage the political process, which you manage from the outside, on the street and in various spheres of society… I will be at the head of the political process, remaining your president. There is no legitimate parliament, so an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president, so there can be no inauguration. My mandate is valid until the parliament is legally elected, which will legally elect someone in my place,” she said.

On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered again in Tbilisi against the decision of the ruling Georgian Dream party to abandon negotiations with the EU on accession until 2028. Protests also continue in other cities of the country.

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Iraklii Kobakhidze, said that the country’s authorities will not allow the scenario of the Ukrainian Maidan. The prime minister also blamed European politicians and the “agency” for violence at pro-European rallies in Tbilisi. According to Kobakhidze, on the night of November 30 in Tbilisi, the police prevented “an attack on the country’s constitutional system” and protected sovereignty and independence.

Georgian security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters outside the parliament in Tbilisi in the early hours of November 29. Dozens of protesters were detained, several people, including journalists from Radio Liberty and other mass media, were injured.

After October’s parliamentary elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party won 54 percent of the vote, the opposition and Western governments say the vote was marred by irregularities and Russian influence.

PHOTO GALLERY: Dispersal of the rally in Tbilisi: dozens of injured demonstrators, journalists and security forces (photo gallery)

Dozens of demonstrators, journalists and security forces were injured on the night of November 29 in Tbilisi. A spontaneous rally took place in the Georgian capital after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s statement on the suspension of EU integration until 2028. The Ministry of Internal Affairs used special means against the participants of the action, including water cannons and pepper spray.