- Lebanon media says Israel strikes Beirut suburbs, office of pro-Iran broadcaster
- Embiid, George out for 76ers' NBA season opener
- G7 to make $50 bn Ukraine loan available by year-end: Yellen
- US fines Apple and Goldman Sachs over Apple Card
- Over 350 green activists killed since 2018 in nature summit host Colombia: report
- Harris berates 'unhinged' Trump over Hitler remarks
- Proportion of women killed in conflict doubled in 2023: UN
- US businesses 'hesitant' before 2024 elections: Federal Reserve
- Leverkusen held to stalemate in Champions League by battling Brest
- Frustrated Atalanta held to goalless draw by Celtic in Champions League
- Djokovic won't play Paris Masters, leaving doubt over season
- Bolivian transport workers strike over fuel shortages
- Fury expects to knock out Usyk in heavyweight title rematch
- Georgia ruling party stages mass rally ahead of key vote
- Attack kills 4, injures 14 at Turkey defence firm
- Another French top pick: Zaccharie Risacher starts life in the NBA
- EU chief starts Balkans tour, says enlargement 'top priority'
- Destitute Gazans cold 'every night' as winter approaches
- Asalanka stars as Sri Lanka defeat West Indies in second ODI, clinch series
- 'The whole city shook': Israel pounds Lebanon's ancient Tyre
- Belarus to hold presidential vote on January 26
- BHP denies responsibility for 2015 Brazil mine disaster at London trial
- Lagarde says ECB should be careful with rise in emerging currencies
- Shiffrin to skip downhill, no stress over landmark World Cup victories
- Emery already one of 'Villa's greats', says McGinn
- 4 dead, 14 hurt in attack at Turkey defence firm
- Activists take German government to court over biodiversity
- US existing home sales slip in September to near 14-year low
- Bank of Canada cuts rates, says fight against inflation 'worked'
- Zimbabwe smash T20I record with 344-4 against Gambia
- Mourinho says Man Utd 'will succeed sooner or later'
- China should use fiscal policy to boost growth: IMF
- Wolfspeed and ZF put German chip factory on ice
- Putin faces calls for peace at flagship BRICS summit
- Dupont back in France squad for November internationals
- Caelan Doris to captain Ireland in November rugby Tests
- 14 dead, thousands evacuated as tropical storm batters Philippines
- Boeing reports $6.2 bn loss on strike, defense contract woes
- Germany's Scholz heads to India despite differences on Russia
- Sri Lanka deploys troops to Jewish community centre after US warning
- Sione Tuipulotu named as Scotland captain for November internationals
- 'I'm broken', mass rape victim tells French court
- Don't let tech gurus decide the future: Nobel winner Simon Johnson
- Palestinian seeds join Arctic 'doomsday vault'
- Ariana Grande concert attack survivors win UK harassment case
- Blinken on new quest for Saudi ties with Israel
- UK and Germany sign 'milestone' defence deal
- Seoul says N.Korea sent more troops to Russia, Kyiv urges their surrender
- Stokes forecasts spin battle in Pakistan-England decider
- Volvo Cars cuts sales forecast on market headwinds
CMSC | -0.39% | 24.64 | $ | |
NGG | 0.23% | 66.44 | $ | |
RIO | -1.54% | 64.49 | $ | |
RBGPF | 1.59% | 63 | $ | |
GSK | -0.05% | 37.98 | $ | |
SCS | -2.73% | 12.47 | $ | |
BTI | -0.52% | 34.71 | $ | |
RELX | -0.43% | 46.82 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.69% | 24.76 | $ | |
VOD | -0.95% | 9.46 | $ | |
BCC | 0.19% | 133.91 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.96% | 7.29 | $ | |
JRI | -0.15% | 13.05 | $ | |
AZN | -0.48% | 76.95 | $ | |
BCE | -0.33% | 33.21 | $ | |
BP | -0.86% | 31.31 | $ |
Georgia ruling party stages mass rally ahead of key vote
Georgia's ruling party held its final campaign rally on Wednesday ahead of crucial elections pitting it against a pro-Western opposition union which accuses the government of increasing authoritarianism.
Saturday's parliamentary elections are seen as a vital test for EU-candidate Georgia's democracy and long-held European aspirations.
The ruling Georgian Dream party bussed tens of thousands of people, including public servants, from across the country to a campaign rally at the capital Tbilisi's central Freedom Square, footage from several independent local TV stations showed.
Demonstrators beat drums and shouted "Long live Georgian Dream!" as they marched down Tbilisi's tree-lined Rustaveli Avenue towards the venue, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
The column was led by Tsotne Ivanishvili, the son of powerful oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili who controls the ruling party and is widely seen as the man in charge in Georgia.
"By 2030, we will become a member of the European Union -- with dignity, with respect for Christianity, the Church, morality, independence and sovereignty," Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told the crowd of some 55,000 people.
"The injustice of EU politicians and officials does not suit Europe, the rejection of Christian dogmas does not suit Europe, LGBT propaganda does not suit Europe and disrespect for others' sovereignty does not suit Europe."
On Sunday, tens of thousands took to the streets for a pro-Europe rally in Tbilisi.
- Conspiracy theory -
Georgian Dream's campaign has centred on a conspiracy theory about a "global party of war" that controls Western institutions and is seeking to drag Georgia into the Russia-Ukraine war.
"If the opposition comes to power, they will start a war (with Russia), that's why we support Georgian Dream. It is the guarantor of peace," said Tamila Siradze, 70, one of the rally's participants.
In power since 2012, Georgian Dream initially pursued a liberal pro-Western policy agenda, but over the last two years has reversed course and been accused of moving closer to Moscow.
Brussels froze Georgia's EU accession process earlier this year after Georgian Dream lawmakers passed a controversial "foreign influence law" targeting civil society.
The adoption of the measure -- criticised as a Kremlin-style law to silence dissent -- sparked weeks of mass street protests and also prompted Washington to impose sanctions on dozens of Georgian officials.
Earlier this month, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell cautioned that Georgian Dream's actions "signal a shift towards authoritarianism".
Opinion polls suggest opposition parties are likely to garner enough votes in Saturday's election to form a coalition government and supplant the ruling party.
Analysts have warned of the risk of turmoil if Georgian Dream attempts to hold onto power regardless of the vote's outcome.
G.Machado--PC