Hundreds of police officers in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, were deployed on November 25 to secure the parliament building as tensions escalated following last month’s parliamentary election. Pro-Western opposition supporters, alleging widespread electoral fraud, have taken to the streets in protest, calling for new elections and challenging the legitimacy of the ruling party, Georgian Dream.

The Georgian Dream party, which promotes pragmatic relations with all neighbors, including Russia, won the election with a commanding 54 percent majority. Last week, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) ratified the results, affirming the party’s victory. However, opposition leaders and Georgia’s pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, have refused to acknowledge the outcome. They claim the election was plagued by vote-rigging and undue Russian influence, allegations that have further divided the politically polarized nation.

Protests began on November 24, drawing thousands of demonstrators to the streets of Tbilisi. Carrying EU flags and banners denouncing Georgian Dream, activists demanded a fair electoral process. The demonstration transformed into a sit-in, with participants vowing to disrupt the ruling party’s plans to hold the first parliamentary session. Protesters also pledged to intensify their actions if their demands for a fresh election were not met.

While opposition groups and President Zourabichvili have condemned the election as illegitimate, international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) assessed the process positively. The OSCE found no significant violations, a stance echoed by Russia, which........

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