Georgia’s pro-EU opposition calls for protest over ‘rigged’ election result

Salome Zourabichvili called on Georgians to protest against the parliamentary victory of the ruling, Russia-aligned Georgian Dream party. Photograph: Kostya Manenkov/AP

Georgia’s pro-western opposition has called on the country to protest on Monday against the disputed parliamentary victory of the ruling, Russia-aligned Georgian Dream (GD) party.

GD retained power in Saturday’s pivotal election that dealt a significant blow to the country’s long-held aspirations for EU membership, amid allegations of voter intimidation and coercion.