٠٠:٠٤:٤٥Gergian citizens shared their views on the country's recent parliamentary elections, speaking in Tbilisi on Monday
Nugzar Sikharulidze from the village of Chokhaturi believes that the republic should follow an independent path of development.
"We should not be dependent on the EU, we have our own opinion. We have our own culture and traditions, and we should not receive instructions from the EU, Russia or the USA. We are a traditional country and what we are. If we are accepted as we are, let them accept us, if not, then best wishes to them and good luck to us," the man said.
Paralympic taekwondo world champion Giorgi Khizanishvili is in favour of Georgia's path of European integration.
"We want Europe in our country, in Georgia, specifically in Tbilisi and in all regions. I stay in my country today because I love my country, because I fight for my country. If I have brought my country to the world level, I am happy, and why should I live in another country?" Khizanishvili shared.
Otari, Tbilisi resident, believes that Georgia's accession to the EU will improve education and economic situation in the country, but he is against 'LGBT propaganda'.
"As for LGBT - it's a disease, a person is sick, what do you want from him, what do you ask for? We should fight for that law to be removed. Parliament should be normal and society, so that’s why we need education," the man said.
Another respondent, Ilya Gudiashvili, noted that the BRICS format would suit the country better than the European Union.
"We don't want the EU, there is a better option: there is the 3+3 format [consultative platform], there is BRICS. And it will be even better, because this government has chosen this way, it doesn't want to go off the path. But if this continues, this government will have to reconsider what path they have chosen," the man emphasised.
On October 27, the Central Election Commission of the country released the results of the parliamentary elections held the previous day. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, won 53.93 percent, surpassing the opposition bloc.
Approximately two million people cast their votes in the election, which represents a turnout of 59 percent of eligible voters. There were a total of 3,044 voting stations open across the country, as well as an additional 67 abroad.
On the same day, Zurabishvili said that she did not 'recognise' the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party and urged the population to participate in protests.
"Recognising these elections actually means recognising the fact that Russia has come here, that we are subordinate to Russia. That is not the reason I came to this country. <…> I would like to appeal to everyone and urge them to gather tomorrow evening at seven o'clock on Rustaveli avenue to tell together the whole world that we do not recognise these elections, that we defend our constitutional right to peacefully defend our votes," she said.
In turn, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described Zurabishvili’s suggestions of 'interference' as 'nonsense'.
Representatives of the United National Movement and the Coalition for Change opposition parties have also refused to accept the results. Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, on his X [formerly Twitter] account, claimed that the election was 'completely rigged and stolen'.
For his part, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the opposition bloc's unwillingness to 'accept the results' of the parliamentary elections a 'hopeless attempt' to save face.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban congratulated Kobakhidze on his 'overwhelming victory', while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also sent a congratulatory letter to the prime minister, calling the Georgian Dream party a 'leading political force'.
Addressing the election, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken drew attention to reports of violations of international norms in the past elections and called on foreign and domestic observers to 'conduct a full investigation' into non-compliance with regulations.
'We should't receive instructions from EU, Russia or USA' - Georgian residents react after parliamentary election
Gergian citizens shared their views on the country's recent parliamentary elections, speaking in Tbilisi on Monday
Nugzar Sikharulidze from the village of Chokhaturi believes that the republic should follow an independent path of development.
"We should not be dependent on the EU, we have our own opinion. We have our own culture and traditions, and we should not receive instructions from the EU, Russia or the USA. We are a traditional country and what we are. If we are accepted as we are, let them accept us, if not, then best wishes to them and good luck to us," the man said.
Paralympic taekwondo world champion Giorgi Khizanishvili is in favour of Georgia's path of European integration.
"We want Europe in our country, in Georgia, specifically in Tbilisi and in all regions. I stay in my country today because I love my country, because I fight for my country. If I have brought my country to the world level, I am happy, and why should I live in another country?" Khizanishvili shared.
Otari, Tbilisi resident, believes that Georgia's accession to the EU will improve education and economic situation in the country, but he is against 'LGBT propaganda'.
"As for LGBT - it's a disease, a person is sick, what do you want from him, what do you ask for? We should fight for that law to be removed. Parliament should be normal and society, so that’s why we need education," the man said.
Another respondent, Ilya Gudiashvili, noted that the BRICS format would suit the country better than the European Union.
"We don't want the EU, there is a better option: there is the 3+3 format [consultative platform], there is BRICS. And it will be even better, because this government has chosen this way, it doesn't want to go off the path. But if this continues, this government will have to reconsider what path they have chosen," the man emphasised.
On October 27, the Central Election Commission of the country released the results of the parliamentary elections held the previous day. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, won 53.93 percent, surpassing the opposition bloc.
Approximately two million people cast their votes in the election, which represents a turnout of 59 percent of eligible voters. There were a total of 3,044 voting stations open across the country, as well as an additional 67 abroad.
On the same day, Zurabishvili said that she did not 'recognise' the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party and urged the population to participate in protests.
"Recognising these elections actually means recognising the fact that Russia has come here, that we are subordinate to Russia. That is not the reason I came to this country. <…> I would like to appeal to everyone and urge them to gather tomorrow evening at seven o'clock on Rustaveli avenue to tell together the whole world that we do not recognise these elections, that we defend our constitutional right to peacefully defend our votes," she said.
In turn, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described Zurabishvili’s suggestions of 'interference' as 'nonsense'.
Representatives of the United National Movement and the Coalition for Change opposition parties have also refused to accept the results. Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, on his X [formerly Twitter] account, claimed that the election was 'completely rigged and stolen'.
For his part, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the opposition bloc's unwillingness to 'accept the results' of the parliamentary elections a 'hopeless attempt' to save face.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban congratulated Kobakhidze on his 'overwhelming victory', while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also sent a congratulatory letter to the prime minister, calling the Georgian Dream party a 'leading political force'.
Addressing the election, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken drew attention to reports of violations of international norms in the past elections and called on foreign and domestic observers to 'conduct a full investigation' into non-compliance with regulations.
Gergian citizens shared their views on the country's recent parliamentary elections, speaking in Tbilisi on Monday
Nugzar Sikharulidze from the village of Chokhaturi believes that the republic should follow an independent path of development.
"We should not be dependent on the EU, we have our own opinion. We have our own culture and traditions, and we should not receive instructions from the EU, Russia or the USA. We are a traditional country and what we are. If we are accepted as we are, let them accept us, if not, then best wishes to them and good luck to us," the man said.
Paralympic taekwondo world champion Giorgi Khizanishvili is in favour of Georgia's path of European integration.
"We want Europe in our country, in Georgia, specifically in Tbilisi and in all regions. I stay in my country today because I love my country, because I fight for my country. If I have brought my country to the world level, I am happy, and why should I live in another country?" Khizanishvili shared.
Otari, Tbilisi resident, believes that Georgia's accession to the EU will improve education and economic situation in the country, but he is against 'LGBT propaganda'.
"As for LGBT - it's a disease, a person is sick, what do you want from him, what do you ask for? We should fight for that law to be removed. Parliament should be normal and society, so that’s why we need education," the man said.
Another respondent, Ilya Gudiashvili, noted that the BRICS format would suit the country better than the European Union.
"We don't want the EU, there is a better option: there is the 3+3 format [consultative platform], there is BRICS. And it will be even better, because this government has chosen this way, it doesn't want to go off the path. But if this continues, this government will have to reconsider what path they have chosen," the man emphasised.
On October 27, the Central Election Commission of the country released the results of the parliamentary elections held the previous day. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, won 53.93 percent, surpassing the opposition bloc.
Approximately two million people cast their votes in the election, which represents a turnout of 59 percent of eligible voters. There were a total of 3,044 voting stations open across the country, as well as an additional 67 abroad.
On the same day, Zurabishvili said that she did not 'recognise' the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party and urged the population to participate in protests.
"Recognising these elections actually means recognising the fact that Russia has come here, that we are subordinate to Russia. That is not the reason I came to this country. <…> I would like to appeal to everyone and urge them to gather tomorrow evening at seven o'clock on Rustaveli avenue to tell together the whole world that we do not recognise these elections, that we defend our constitutional right to peacefully defend our votes," she said.
In turn, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described Zurabishvili’s suggestions of 'interference' as 'nonsense'.
Representatives of the United National Movement and the Coalition for Change opposition parties have also refused to accept the results. Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, on his X [formerly Twitter] account, claimed that the election was 'completely rigged and stolen'.
For his part, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the opposition bloc's unwillingness to 'accept the results' of the parliamentary elections a 'hopeless attempt' to save face.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban congratulated Kobakhidze on his 'overwhelming victory', while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also sent a congratulatory letter to the prime minister, calling the Georgian Dream party a 'leading political force'.
Addressing the election, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken drew attention to reports of violations of international norms in the past elections and called on foreign and domestic observers to 'conduct a full investigation' into non-compliance with regulations.