Thousands of Georgians protested in the capital Tbilisi on Sunday against the result of the country's presidential election, as defeated candidate Grigol Vashadze said opposition parties would challenge the outcome in court.
Holding Georgian and European Union flags, protesters alleged vote-buying and other irregularities as they packed Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament building.
Former president Mikheil Saakashvili addressed a huge crowd by video link from Amsterdam, where he lives.
"Misha! Misha!" chanted supporters as the 50-year-old politician appeared on a big screen.
"Georgia's future is being born on this square today," said Saakashvili, accused by the authorities of abuse of power.
Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili speaks via video link during a protest rally, Tbilisi, Georgia, December 2, 2018. /VCG Photo
"We will fight peacefully but we will never give up," he said, flashing the victory sign at the end of his speech.
On Wednesday, former French diplomat Salome Zurabishvili was elected the nation's first woman president, beating Grigol Vashadze backed by an alliance led by Saakashvili's party.
Vashadze has described the election as a "criminal farce" and has called for snap parliamentary elections after the central election commission said on Thursday that Salome Zurabishvili, who was backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, had secured 59.5 percent of the vote.
"We don't recognize illegitimate results of this rigged election and demand an early parliamentary election to be called in the country," Vashadze told thousands of supporters at Sunday's rally in Tbilisi.
Vashadze said that if the government rejects the opposition's demands, another peaceful protest would be held on December 16, the day of the president-elect's inauguration.
Georgia's President-elect Salome Zurabishvili speaks during an interview, Georgia, December 1, 2018. /VCG Photo
Political analysts say they do not expect the election result to trigger any serious unrest in Georgia.
Under a revised constitution, the prime minister and government wield most executive power. But the presidency is still seen as an important position as the international face of the country.
(Top image: Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili speaks via video link during a rally, Tbilisi, Georgia, December 2, 2018. /VCG Photo)