Georgia President Calls For New Elections Amid Protest

Georgia’s pro-Western president has declared she will stay in post until new parliamentary elections are held, as protests continue over the government’s decision to put EU accession negotiations on hold.

Speaking to the BBC, Salome Zourabichvili, who has sided with the opposition, described the current parliament as “illegitimate” after allegations of fraud in last month’s elections.

Zourabichvili said she would retain her role as president, despite the country’s newly elected parliament saying it would choose her replacement on 14 December.

Mass protests in the capital are continuing to erupt for a third consecutive night on Saturday in the capital Tbilisi.

Riot police have been deployed around the country’s parliament, the focal point of three nights of protests.

Officers again used tear gas and water cannon against protesters into the early hours of Sunday, as they tried to push people away from the parliament building.

Demonstrations were also taking place in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, and other Georgian regions.

“I’m offering this stability for the transition, because what these people on the streets are demanding is a call for new elections in order to restore this country and its European path,” said Zourabichvili.

Hundreds of civil servants have signed letters expressing their disapproval of the government’s decision to put negotiations with the EU on hold, saying it went against the national interests of Georgia.

Georgian ambassadors to Bulgaria, Netherlands and Italy have also resigned.

The US said on Saturday that it was suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia, citing the government’s “various anti-democratic actions”.

Since 2012, Georgia has been governed by Georgian Dream, a party which critics say has tried to move the country away from the EU and closer to Russia.

The party claimed victory in last month’s election but opposition MPs are boycotting the new parliament, alleging fraud.

BBC/Ejiofor Ezeifeoma