Protesters are blocking entrances to the parliament building in Georgia, preventing MPs from entering the legislature, First Georgian TV Channel reported.
The participants of the rally near the legislative body building did not allow the member of the Georgian Dream faction, MP Revaz Arveladze, to enter the parliament building. Arveladze has already left the territory of parliament.
On November 14, the Georgian parliament failed to vote on constitutional amendments, which involve holding parliamentary elections in 2020 according to a proportional system with zero electoral threshold. A total of 113 out of 150 MPs’ votes needed to continue consideration of the initiative. During the vote, only 101 deputies supported the changes. Three deputies of the ruling Georgian Dream party voted against, 39 abstained.
After the ruling party did not fulfill its promise, a permanent protest rally began in front of the parliament building in central Tbilisi. Following the consultations, the opposition and civic activists made three demands to the authorities: the formation of an interim, technical government; calling early parliamentary elections on a proportional basis; reorganization of the Central Election Commission.
At a large-scale general rally of the opposition on November 17, the start of picketing of the parliament was announced, all three entrances to the building of the legislative body were blocked. Protesters say they will not be allowed to get inside deputies until their demands are met.
