Georgian police clear protesters challenging 'stolen' election

Opposition protesters around the capital's university demand new elections, alleging fraud in last month's poll.

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The protesters had set up tents and barriers at a major junction near Tbilisi State University and security and riot police detained a number of people as they moved in to clear the area.

Georgia's pro-Western opposition accuses the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party of using voter intimidation and fraud to win last month’s parliamentary elections.

Georgian Dream denies rigging the vote. The result has been rubber-stamped by the central election commission even though it was not corroborated by Western polling groups.

The European Union and US have backed opposition calls for an investigation into the 26 October election which was seen in Georgia as a choice between a future within the European Union or a return to Russia's orbit.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqykd8xzl7o

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