The newly elected Georgian parliament commenced its inaugural session on Monday amidst a backdrop of political turmoil. The opposition lawmakers and the president chose to boycott the session, alleging that the ruling party, Georgian Dream, had manipulated the election results under Russian influence. Thousands of protesters gathered outside the parliament, with a heavy presence of riot police, accusing the ruling party of electoral fraud.
The October 26 election, which saw Georgian Dream retain power, was widely viewed as a crucial moment in the country's aspirations to join the European Union. However, opposition parties refused to engage in parliamentary activities, leaving only Georgian Dream members present in the 150-seat parliament.
