Georgia on Saturday said 107 people were arrested during a second day of protests sparked by the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis.

The Black Sea nation has been rocked by turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in an October 26 parliamentary election that the pro-EU opposition said was fraudulent.

The interior ministry said 107 people were detained for "disobedience to lawful police orders and petty hooliganism."

"Throughout the night... protesters threw various objects, including stones, pyrotechnics, glass bottles, and metal items, at law enforcement officers," it said, adding that "10 employees of the ministry of internal affairs were injured."

The ministry had said that 32 police officers were wounded and 43 protestors detained on Thursday.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's statement Thursday that Georgia will not seek to open accession talks with the European Union until 2028 ignited a furious reaction from the opposition and two days of protests.

He later accused the opposition and the EU ambassador to Georgia of distorting his words, and insisted membership in the bloc "by 2030" remains his "top priority."

<h2>'Resistance movement'</h2>

On Friday, AFP reporters saw riot police fire water cannon and tear gas at pro-EU protesters gathered outside the parliament in Tbilisi, who tossed eggs and fireworks.

Clashes broke out later between protesters and police, who moved in to clear the area outside parliament, beating demonstrators, some of whom threw objects.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-police-arrest-dozens-of-people-as-pro-eu-protesters-clash-with-them-780288">Also read:&nbsp;Georgia: Dozens arrested as pro-EU protesters clash with police</a>

Independent TV station Pirveli said one of its journalists was hospitalised with serious injuries.

Protests were also held in other cities across Georgia on Friday, independent TV station Mtavari reported.

Pro-Western opposition parties are boycotting the new parliament, while President Salome Zurabishvili has sought to annul the election results through the country's constitutional court.

In a televised address to the nation on Friday evening, the pro-Western president -- at loggerheads with the ruling party -- said: "The resistance movement has begun... I stand in solidarity with it."

"We will remain united until Georgia achieves its goals: to return to its European path, secure new elections."

<h2>'Brutal repression'</h2>

After the October vote, a group of Georgia's leading election monitors said they had evidence of a complex scheme of large-scale electoral fraud.

Brussels has demanded an investigation into what it said were "serious (electoral) irregularities" reported by election monitors.

Georgian Dream MPs voted unanimously Thursday for Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister, even as the opposition boycotted parliament, which faces a serious legitimacy crisis.

"Police actions in Tbilisi mark another punitive attack on the right to peaceful assembly," said Amnesty International.

France, Britain, Ukraine, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania were among the countries to voice concern.

The Council of Europe condemned what it described as "brutal repression", urging Georgia to remain "faithful to European values".

In recent years, critics accuse Georgian Dream -- in power for more than a decade -- of having moved the country away from Europe and closer to Russia.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Georgia on Saturday said 107 people were arrested during a second day of protests sparked by the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis.

Georgia on Saturday said 107 people were arrested during a second day of protests sparked by the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis. The Black Sea nation has been rocked by turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in an October 26 parliamentary election that the pro-EU opposition said was fraudulent. The interior ministry said 107 people were detained for "disobedience to lawful police orders and petty hooliganism." "Throughout the night... protesters threw various objects, including stones, pyrotechnics, glass bottles, and metal items, at law enforcement officers," it said, adding that "10 employees of the ministry of internal affairs were injured." The ministry had said that 32 police officers were wounded and 43 protestors detained on Thursday. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's statement Thursday that Georgia will not seek to open accession talks with the European Union until 2028 ignited a furious reaction from the opposition and two days of protests. He later accused the opposition and the EU ambassador to Georgia of distorting his words, and insisted membership in the bloc "by 2030" remains his "top priority." 'Resistance movement' On Friday, AFP reporters saw riot police fire water cannon and tear gas at pro-EU protesters gathered outside the parliament in Tbilisi, who tossed eggs and fireworks. Clashes broke out later between protesters and police, who moved in to clear the area outside parliament, beating demonstrators, some of whom threw objects. Also read: Georgia: Dozens arrested as pro-EU protesters clash with police Independent TV station Pirveli said one of its journalists was hospitalised with serious injuries. Protests were also held in other cities across Georgia on Friday, independent TV station Mtavari reported. Pro-Western opposition parties are boycotting the new parliament, while President Salome Zurabishvili has sought to annul the election results through the country's constitutional court. In a televised address to the nation on Friday evening, the pro-Western president -- at loggerheads with the ruling party -- said: "The resistance movement has begun... I stand in solidarity with it." "We will remain united until Georgia achieves its goals: to return to its European path, secure new elections." 'Brutal repression' After the October vote, a group of Georgia's leading election monitors said they had evidence of a complex scheme of large-scale electoral fraud. Brussels has demanded an investigation into what it said were "serious (electoral) irregularities" reported by election monitors. Georgian Dream MPs voted unanimously Thursday for Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister, even as the opposition boycotted parliament, which faces a serious legitimacy crisis. "Police actions in Tbilisi mark another punitive attack on the right to peaceful assembly," said Amnesty International. France, Britain, Ukraine, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania were among the countries to voice concern. The Council of Europe condemned what it described as "brutal repression", urging Georgia to remain "faithful to European values". In recent years, critics accuse Georgian Dream -- in power for more than a decade -- of having moved the country away from Europe and closer to Russia. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Over 100 pro-West protestors detained by Georgia amid post-election crisis

Thousands rallied in Georgia on Tuesday in support of President Salome Zurabishvili's lawsuit to annul last month's parliamentary election result, which the pro-Western opposition denounced as rigged in favour of the ruling party.

The rally came hours after police violently dismantled a sit-in protest outside Tbilisi State University, where dozens of demonstrators had set up tents and blocked traffic in protest against the contested vote.

The European Union and the United States have called for a probe into the "irregularities" during the October 26 election, won by the governing Georgian Dream party.

The opposition says the government is skewing the Caucasus country's foreign policy towards Russia and derailing its path to joining the European Union, an accusation Georgian Dream denies.

Pro-Western president Zurabishvili -- who is at loggerheads with Georgian Dream -- has called the vote illegitimate and accused Russia of interference, a claim Moscow has denied.

On Tuesday, she "filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court of Georgia, requesting the annulment of the election results as unconstitutional", her office said in a statement.

Zurabishvili wants the court to cancel the results "over widespread violations of voting universality and ballot secrecy", said Eka Beselia, the lawyer representing the president in the court.

On Tuesday evening, several thousand demonstrators gathered outside Tbilisi State University, where police had earlier violently dispersed dozens of anti-government demonstrators.

Addressing the crowd, opposition leaders called for round-the-clock permanent rallies.

<h2>'Fake victory'</h2>

"We will never accept the rigged election (result)," said one of the demonstrators, 20-year-old university student Natela Gabiskiria.

"We support Zurabishvili's demand that the constitutional court annul Georgian Dream's fake (electoral) victory," she told AFP.

Since the vote, tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Tbilisi to protest against alleged electoral fraud.

Pro-Western opposition parties have refused to recognise the election result or enter the newly elected parliament, which they deem "illegitimate".

Zurabishvili has joined the opposition's calls for a new vote and has refused to issue a decree to convene the new parliament.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, of Georgian Dream, has insisted the elections were free and fair and said parliament would convene Monday even without a presidential summons.

But a leading constitutional law expert, Vakhushti Menabde, said on social media Tuesday that the "new parliament can't convene until the constitutional court delivers its ruling on Zurabishvili's lawsuit".

The court has one month to deliver its judgement.

<h2>Protesters beaten</h2>

Early Tuesday, massed police, some wearing masks, beat and forcefully dragged away journalists and protesters holding Georgian and EU flags outside Tbilisi State University, an AFP photographer witnessed.

The Interior Ministry reported that 16 people were arrested for "disobeying police", with three detainees later released.

The leader of the opposition Akhali party, Nika Gvaramia, said members of his party "have been detained and injured. Party activists have been beaten and arrested."

Ahead of the crackdown, the interior ministry urged protesters to disperse, saying "freedom of assembly and expression does not include the right to deliberately disrupt road traffic".

The opposition has announced a new mass rally for when the new legislature holds its first session.

Amnesty International called on the Georgian authorities "to fully comply with their obligations to respect and protect the right to freedom of assembly."&nbsp;

"People have a right to peacefully protest without fear of violence, intimidation, or unlawful arrests" the group said in a statement, adding that "all peaceful protesters who remain in detention must be immediately released."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday that the bloc "will send a mission to Georgia... and the election will have to be investigated".

"The EU will never abandon you and your fight for EU values," he said in a statement after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Ahead of the elections, Brussels warned Tbilisi that the conduct of the vote would be decisive for its prospects of joining&nbsp;the&nbsp;bloc.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Thousands rallied in Georgia on Tuesday in support of President Salome Zurabishvili's lawsuit to annul last month's parliamentary election result, which the pro-Western opposition denounced as rigged in favour of the ruling party.

Thousands rallied in Georgia on Tuesday in support of President Salome Zurabishvili's lawsuit to annul last month's parliamentary election result, which the pro-Western opposition denounced as rigged in favour of the ruling party. The rally came hours after police violently dismantled a sit-in protest outside Tbilisi State University, where dozens of demonstrators had set up tents and blocked traffic in protest against the contested vote. The European Union and the United States have called for a probe into the "irregularities" during the October 26 election, won by the governing Georgian Dream party. The opposition says the government is skewing the Caucasus country's foreign policy towards Russia and derailing its path to joining the European Union, an accusation Georgian Dream denies. Pro-Western president Zurabishvili -- who is at loggerheads with Georgian Dream -- has called the vote illegitimate and accused Russia of interference, a claim Moscow has denied. On Tuesday, she "filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court of Georgia, requesting the annulment of the election results as unconstitutional", her office said in a statement. Zurabishvili wants the court to cancel the results "over widespread violations of voting universality and ballot secrecy", said Eka Beselia, the lawyer representing the president in the court. On Tuesday evening, several thousand demonstrators gathered outside Tbilisi State University, where police had earlier violently dispersed dozens of anti-government demonstrators. Addressing the crowd, opposition leaders called for round-the-clock permanent rallies. 'Fake victory' "We will never accept the rigged election (result)," said one of the demonstrators, 20-year-old university student Natela Gabiskiria. "We support Zurabishvili's demand that the constitutional court annul Georgian Dream's fake (electoral) victory," she told AFP. Since the vote, tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Tbilisi to protest against alleged electoral fraud. Pro-Western opposition parties have refused to recognise the election result or enter the newly elected parliament, which they deem "illegitimate". Zurabishvili has joined the opposition's calls for a new vote and has refused to issue a decree to convene the new parliament. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, of Georgian Dream, has insisted the elections were free and fair and said parliament would convene Monday even without a presidential summons. But a leading constitutional law expert, Vakhushti Menabde, said on social media Tuesday that the "new parliament can't convene until the constitutional court delivers its ruling on Zurabishvili's lawsuit". The court has one month to deliver its judgement. Protesters beaten Early Tuesday, massed police, some wearing masks, beat and forcefully dragged away journalists and protesters holding Georgian and EU flags outside Tbilisi State University, an AFP photographer witnessed. The Interior Ministry reported that 16 people were arrested for "disobeying police", with three detainees later released. The leader of the opposition Akhali party, Nika Gvaramia, said members of his party "have been detained and injured. Party activists have been beaten and arrested." Ahead of the crackdown, the interior ministry urged protesters to disperse, saying "freedom of assembly and expression does not include the right to deliberately disrupt road traffic". The opposition has announced a new mass rally for when the new legislature holds its first session. Amnesty International called on the Georgian authorities "to fully comply with their obligations to respect and protect the right to freedom of assembly." "People have a right to peacefully protest without fear of violence, intimidation, or unlawful arrests" the group said in a statement, adding that "all peaceful protesters who remain in detention must be immediately released." EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday that the bloc "will send a mission to Georgia... and the election will have to be investigated". "The EU will never abandon you and your fight for EU values," he said in a statement after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Ahead of the elections, Brussels warned Tbilisi that the conduct of the vote would be decisive for its prospects of joining the bloc. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Georgia president challenges election verdict in court amid heavy protests

On Sunday, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili urged citizens to take to the streets to protest the results of Saturday's contested parliamentary election, in which the electoral commission declared a victory for the ruling party. Watch to know more.

Georgia Elections: Ruling Party Claims Victory, Opposition Cries Foul

Georgia's central electoral commission said Saturday (Oct 26) that the ruling Georgian Dream party has won 53 per cent of the vote in the parliamentary election, with votes in&nbsp;70 per cent of precincts counted.

Earlier, the opposition had claimed victory as exit polls showed conflicting results.

Dream party's&nbsp;executive secretary, Mamuka Mdinaradze, told reporters that the party had secured a solid majority.&nbsp;

"As the results released by central election commission show, Georgian Dream has secured a solid majority."

The polls were seen as a watershed moment for the country, with results expected to decide whether Tbilisi would drift away from pro-Russia foreign policy or remain at loggerheads with the&nbsp;European Union.

<h2>Exit polls</h2>

Earlier, exit polls showed rival sides winning the elections. Imedi TV channel, a pro-Dream channel, showed the party would win 56 per cent of votes. On the other hand, pro-opposition Formula and Mtavari Arkhi channels claimed that pro-West parties would be able to form a majority in the 150-seat parliament.

Both sides claimed victory based on these exit polls.&nbsp;

Ivanishvili, the ruling party's reclusive billionaire founder and onetime prime minister, was quick to thank voters for the 'victory'.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjzjaGy2ayJAxVdzjgGHT0xA1QQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-okays-50bn-loan-to-kyiv-backed-by-frozen-russian-assets-771006" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-okays-50bn-loan-to-kyiv-backed-by-frozen-russian-assets-771006&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjzjaGy2ayJAxVdzjgGHT0xA1QQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">G7 okays $50bn loan to Kyiv, backed by frozen Russian assets</a>

"It is a rare case in the world that the same party achieves such success in such a difficult situation - this is a good indicator of the talent of the Georgian people," Ivanishvili said just minutes after polls closed.

On the other hand, the opposition too declared its victory, calling upon&nbsp;Ivanishvili to concede defeat.

"We believe the Georgian public has voted clearly for a future at the heart of Europe and no amount of posturing will change that," declared&nbsp;Tina Bokuchava, leader of the United National Movement party of former president Mikheil Saakashvili.

<h2>What next?</h2>

With the Dream party looking all set to form the government, the country is expected to stick to its pro-Russia policy. Since the invasion of Ukraine began two years ago, Tbilisi has refrained from criticising Moscow.&nbsp;

Watch :Georgia Elections: Russia Says West Interfering In Georgia

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is seen as a pro-Russia figure in Europe, also&nbsp;congratulated the Georgian Dream for an "overwhelming victory".

It also means that Georgia won't become a member of the EU as long as the anti-West party remains in power.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Georgia's central electoral commission said Saturday (Oct 26) that the ruling Georgian Dream party has won 53 per cent of the vote in the parliamentary election, with votes in 70 per cent of precincts counted.

Georgia's central electoral commission said Saturday (Oct 26) that the ruling Georgian Dream party has won 53 per cent of the vote in the parliamentary election, with votes in 70 per cent of precincts counted. Earlier, the opposition had claimed victory as exit polls showed conflicting results. Dream party's executive secretary, Mamuka Mdinaradze, told reporters that the party had secured a solid majority. "As the results released by central election commission show, Georgian Dream has secured a solid majority." The polls were seen as a watershed moment for the country, with results expected to decide whether Tbilisi would drift away from pro-Russia foreign policy or remain at loggerheads with the European Union. Exit polls Earlier, exit polls showed rival sides winning the elections. Imedi TV channel, a pro-Dream channel, showed the party would win 56 per cent of votes. On the other hand, pro-opposition Formula and Mtavari Arkhi channels claimed that pro-West parties would be able to form a majority in the 150-seat parliament. Both sides claimed victory based on these exit polls. Ivanishvili, the ruling party's reclusive billionaire founder and onetime prime minister, was quick to thank voters for the 'victory'. Also read: G7 okays $50bn loan to Kyiv, backed by frozen Russian assets "It is a rare case in the world that the same party achieves such success in such a difficult situation - this is a good indicator of the talent of the Georgian people," Ivanishvili said just minutes after polls closed. On the other hand, the opposition too declared its victory, calling upon Ivanishvili to concede defeat. "We believe the Georgian public has voted clearly for a future at the heart of Europe and no amount of posturing will change that," declared Tina Bokuchava, leader of the United National Movement party of former president Mikheil Saakashvili. What next? With the Dream party looking all set to form the government, the country is expected to stick to its pro-Russia policy. Since the invasion of Ukraine began two years ago, Tbilisi has refrained from criticising Moscow. Watch :Georgia Elections: Russia Says West Interfering In Georgia × Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is seen as a pro-Russia figure in Europe, also congratulated the Georgian Dream for an "overwhelming victory". It also means that Georgia won't become a member of the EU as long as the anti-West party remains in power. (With inputs from agencies)

Georgia's ruling Dream party wins majority with 70% of precincts counted

Russia has accused the West of interfering with the parliamentary elections in Georgia adding that it is “not influencing Georgian affairs.” Georgia is all set to hold the crucial elections on Saturday.

Russia Says West Interfering In Georgia Elections

Rudy Giuliani filed for bankruptcy on Thursday, just days after he was ordered to pay $148 million to two former Georgia election workers he falsely accused of fraud following Donald Trump's 2020 presidential election loss.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani files for bankruptcy in New York

A special grand jury in the United States that is probing possible interference by the then President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election laws in Georgia has found no evidence of voter fraud.

2020 Georgia Elections: Grand jury rejects Trump's voter fraud claims; five pages of report released

Democrats on Wednesday completed a sweep of the two U.S. Senate seats up for grabs in runoff elections in the state of Georgia, giving the party control of the chamber and boosting the prospects for President-elect Joe Biden's ambitious legislative agenda.

Raphael Warnock, a Baptist preacher from Martin Luther King Jr.'s former church, beat Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler to become the first Black senator in the deep South state's history while Democrat Jon Ossoff, a documentary filmaker who at 33 would become the Senate's youngest member, beat Republican David Perdue.

The results would give Democrats narrow control of both chambers of Congress, making it easier to appoint liberal-leaning judges and advance legislative priorities from coronavirus relief to climate change when Biden takes office on Jan. 20.

"Georgia's voters delivered a resounding message yesterday: they want action on the crises we face and they want it right now," Biden said in a statement. He said he would work with both parties to confirm key administration officials quickly.

The Georgia result is a final repudiation of outgoing President Donald Trump, who stands to be the first U.S. president since 1932 to lose the White House and both chambers of Congress in a single term.

Trump held rallies for both Republican candidates, but overshadowed the campaign with false accusations that his own loss in the November presidential election in Georgia was tainted by fraud, repeatedly attacking Republican officials in the state. Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday in an attempt to force Congress to undo Trump's election loss.

With 98% of the vote counted, Warnock led Loeffler by 1.5 percentage points and Ossoff led Perdue by 0.6 percentage points, according to Edison Research. Both are expected to win beyond the margin that would require a recount.

Winning both contests would hand Democrats narrow control of the Senate by creating a 50-50 split and giving Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote from Jan. 20. The party already has a thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republicans would retain control of the Senate if they held on to at least one of the Georgia seats.

The campaign's final days were overshadowed by Trump's attempts to pressure Republican Georgia officials to "find" enough votes to overturn Biden's win in the state, as well as his unfounded fraud accusations. He has yet to admit defeat.

"We will never give up, we will never concede," Trump told thousands of supporters at a rally.

'NOT A GREAT WAY TO TURN OUT YOUR VOTERS'

Some Republicans blamed Trump for the loss.

"It turns out that telling the voters that the election is rigged is not a great way to turn out your voters," Senator Mitt Romney, one of Trump's few Republican critics in Congress, told reporters.

The election signaled a shift in the politics of Georgia and the wider deep South. At least 4.5 million voters participated, smashing earlier turnout figures for runoff races. Democrats have worked hard to increase turnout among Black voters, their most reliable supporters in the region.

More than 129,000 voters in the runoffs did not vote in November, according to state data.

Most of them were Democrats, Gabriel Sterling, a Republican state election official, told a news conference: “While Republicans were busy attacking the governor and my boss, Democrats were knocking on doors and getting out the vote.”

In a video message, Warnock, whose Ebenezer Baptist Church is legendary in Georgia because of its role in the civil rights movement under King, recalled his humble upbringing as one of 12 children of a woman who worked in cotton fields.

"Because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else's cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator," he said.

Declaring victory, Ossoff said he looked forward "to serving you in the United States Senate with integrity, with humility, with honor".

Both Republican senators, following Trump's lead, vowed to fight on. "We will mobilize every available resource and exhaust every legal recourse to ensure all legally cast ballots are counted," Perdue said in a statement.

During the campaign, Republicans had painted Ossoff and Warnock as radicals who would pursue a hard-left agenda. That message failed to resonate with many white suburbanites who have increasingly abandoned the Republican party under Trump.

Trump pressed Vice President Mike Pence to throw out election results in states he narrowly lost when he presides over the counting of electoral votes to certify Biden's victory. Pence has no authority to do so. The joint session of Congress was disrupted by Trump supporters and it is unclear when it will be completed.

Some Republican lawmakers have said they will try to reject some state tallies, which could drag out the certification process but stands no chance of succeeding.

Democrats on Wednesday completed a sweep of the two U.S. Senate seats up for grabs in runoff elections in the state of Georgia, giving the party control of the chamber and boosting the prospects for President-elect Joe Biden's ambitious legislative agenda.

Democrats on Wednesday completed a sweep of the two U.S. Senate seats up for grabs in runoff elections in the state of Georgia, giving the party control of the chamber and boosting the prospects for President-elect Joe Biden's ambitious legislative agenda. Raphael Warnock, a Baptist preacher from Martin Luther King Jr.'s former church, beat Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler to become the first Black senator in the deep South state's history while Democrat Jon Ossoff, a documentary filmaker who at 33 would become the Senate's youngest member, beat Republican David Perdue. The results would give Democrats narrow control of both chambers of Congress, making it easier to appoint liberal-leaning judges and advance legislative priorities from coronavirus relief to climate change when Biden takes office on Jan. 20. "Georgia's voters delivered a resounding message yesterday: they want action on the crises we face and they want it right now," Biden said in a statement. He said he would work with both parties to confirm key administration officials quickly. The Georgia result is a final repudiation of outgoing President Donald Trump, who stands to be the first U.S. president since 1932 to lose the White House and both chambers of Congress in a single term. Trump held rallies for both Republican candidates, but overshadowed the campaign with false accusations that his own loss in the November presidential election in Georgia was tainted by fraud, repeatedly attacking Republican officials in the state. Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday in an attempt to force Congress to undo Trump's election loss. With 98% of the vote counted, Warnock led Loeffler by 1.5 percentage points and Ossoff led Perdue by 0.6 percentage points, according to Edison Research. Both are expected to win beyond the margin that would require a recount. Winning both contests would hand Democrats narrow control of the Senate by creating a 50-50 split and giving Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote from Jan. 20. The party already has a thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans would retain control of the Senate if they held on to at least one of the Georgia seats. The campaign's final days were overshadowed by Trump's attempts to pressure Republican Georgia officials to "find" enough votes to overturn Biden's win in the state, as well as his unfounded fraud accusations. He has yet to admit defeat. "We will never give up, we will never concede," Trump told thousands of supporters at a rally. 'NOT A GREAT WAY TO TURN OUT YOUR VOTERS' Some Republicans blamed Trump for the loss. "It turns out that telling the voters that the election is rigged is not a great way to turn out your voters," Senator Mitt Romney, one of Trump's few Republican critics in Congress, told reporters. The election signaled a shift in the politics of Georgia and the wider deep South. At least 4.5 million voters participated, smashing earlier turnout figures for runoff races. Democrats have worked hard to increase turnout among Black voters, their most reliable supporters in the region. More than 129,000 voters in the runoffs did not vote in November, according to state data. Most of them were Democrats, Gabriel Sterling, a Republican state election official, told a news conference: “While Republicans were busy attacking the governor and my boss, Democrats were knocking on doors and getting out the vote.” In a video message, Warnock, whose Ebenezer Baptist Church is legendary in Georgia because of its role in the civil rights movement under King, recalled his humble upbringing as one of 12 children of a woman who worked in cotton fields. "Because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else's cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator," he said. Declaring victory, Ossoff said he looked forward "to serving you in the United States Senate with integrity, with humility, with honor". Both Republican senators, following Trump's lead, vowed to fight on. "We will mobilize every available resource and exhaust every legal recourse to ensure all legally cast ballots are counted," Perdue said in a statement. During the campaign, Republicans had painted Ossoff and Warnock as radicals who would pursue a hard-left agenda. That message failed to resonate with many white suburbanites who have increasingly abandoned the Republican party under Trump. Trump pressed Vice President Mike Pence to throw out election results in states he narrowly lost when he presides over the counting of electoral votes to certify Biden's victory. Pence has no authority to do so. The joint session of Congress was disrupted by Trump supporters and it is unclear when it will be completed. Some Republican lawmakers have said they will try to reject some state tallies, which could drag out the certification process but stands no chance of succeeding.

Democrats take control of US Senate as they win second race in Georgia

All polls in Georgia officially closed on Tuesday&nbsp;after a day of in-person voting in Georgia's closely watched US Senate elections that will determine which party controls the chamber and how Congress could impact Joe Biden's incoming administration.

The runoffs for two Senate seats follow the November 3 election that saw Democrat Biden narrowly win Georgia and defeat President Donald Trump in their bitter White House race.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-will-fight-like-hell-to-hold-on-to-presidency-donald-trump-354509" hreflang="en">I will 'fight like hell' to hold on to presidency: Donald Trump</a>

After polls closed at 7:00 pm (0000 GMT Wednesday) in the southern state, US news outlets reported the races were too close to call, with Georgia officials saying results may not be known until Wednesday or later.

Georgia's unusual runoff for two Senate seats pits Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff against incumbent Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Purdue respectively.

As polls closed Tuesday evening, preliminary results showed Warnock and Ossoff had jumped to narrow early leads.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-pressures-georgia-official-to-find-votes-to-overturn-election-354282/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

Ossoff, a documentary filmmaker, and Warnock, a pastor at a historic Black church in Atlanta, are challenging Republican incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler.

With about 49 per cent&nbsp;of the estimated vote counted, Warnock led Loeffler by 6.8 percentage points, while Ossoff was ahead of Perdue by 6.4 percentage points, according to Edison Research. The early results still heavily reflect Democratic-leaning areas.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Looks like they are setting up a big “voter dump” against the Republican candidates. Waiting to see how many votes they need?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1346659909492998146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The races appeared headed to a close finish, with an Edison exit poll of more than 5,200 voters finding half had voted for Republican President Donald Trump in November and a half for Biden. The voters were also evenly split on whether Democrats or Republicans should control the Senate.

The survey included both early voters and voters who cast ballots on Tuesday.

Democrats must win both contests in&nbsp;Georgia&nbsp;to take control of the Senate. A double Democratic win would create a 50-50 split in the Senate and give Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote after she and Biden take office on January&nbsp;20. The party already has a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.

If Republicans hold onto the Senate, they would effectively wield veto power over Biden's political and judicial appointees as well as many of his policy initiatives in areas such as economic relief, climate change, healthcare and criminal justice.

The state already had relatively complete results for 27 counties in&nbsp;Georgia&nbsp;with about 197,000 total votes. Ossoff has done about 0.2 percentage point better than Biden did in those counties, while Warnock is doing about 0.8 percentage point better than Biden did.

The outcome may remain in doubt for days if the margins are razor-thin.

Both Biden and Trump campaigned in the state on Monday, underscoring the stakes.

No Democrat has won a US&nbsp;Senate race in&nbsp;Georgia&nbsp;in 20 years, but opinion surveys show both races as exceedingly close. The head-to-head runoff elections, a quirk of state law, became necessary when no candidate in either race exceeded 50 per cent&nbsp;of the vote in November.

Biden's narrow statewide win in the November&nbsp;3 election,&nbsp;the first for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992, has given the party reason for optimism in a state dominated by Republicans for decades.

More than 3 million&nbsp;Georgians voted early by mail or in person, shattering the record for runoff elections even before Election Day arrived. The two races drew nearly half a billion dollars in advertising spending since November&nbsp;3, a staggering total that fueled a tsunami of television commercials.

(With input from agencies)

All polls in Georgia officially closed on Tuesday after a day of in-person voting in Georgia's closely watched US Senate elections that will determine which party controls the chamber and how Congress could impact Joe Biden's incoming administration.

All polls in Georgia officially closed on Tuesday after a day of in-person voting in Georgia's closely watched US Senate elections that will determine which party controls the chamber and how Congress could impact Joe Biden's incoming administration. The runoffs for two Senate seats follow the November 3 election that saw Democrat Biden narrowly win Georgia and defeat President Donald Trump in their bitter White House race. Also read: I will 'fight like hell' to hold on to presidency: Donald Trump After polls closed at 7:00 pm (0000 GMT Wednesday) in the southern state, US news outlets reported the races were too close to call, with Georgia officials saying results may not be known until Wednesday or later. Georgia's unusual runoff for two Senate seats pits Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff against incumbent Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Purdue respectively. As polls closed Tuesday evening, preliminary results showed Warnock and Ossoff had jumped to narrow early leads. Ossoff, a documentary filmmaker, and Warnock, a pastor at a historic Black church in Atlanta, are challenging Republican incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. With about 49 per cent of the estimated vote counted, Warnock led Loeffler by 6.8 percentage points, while Ossoff was ahead of Perdue by 6.4 percentage points, according to Edison Research. The early results still heavily reflect Democratic-leaning areas. Looks like they are setting up a big “voter dump” against the Republican candidates. Waiting to see how many votes they need? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021 × The races appeared headed to a close finish, with an Edison exit poll of more than 5,200 voters finding half had voted for Republican President Donald Trump in November and a half for Biden. The voters were also evenly split on whether Democrats or Republicans should control the Senate. The survey included both early voters and voters who cast ballots on Tuesday. Democrats must win both contests in Georgia to take control of the Senate. A double Democratic win would create a 50-50 split in the Senate and give Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote after she and Biden take office on January 20. The party already has a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. If Republicans hold onto the Senate, they would effectively wield veto power over Biden's political and judicial appointees as well as many of his policy initiatives in areas such as economic relief, climate change, healthcare and criminal justice. The state already had relatively complete results for 27 counties in Georgia with about 197,000 total votes. Ossoff has done about 0.2 percentage point better than Biden did in those counties, while Warnock is doing about 0.8 percentage point better than Biden did. The outcome may remain in doubt for days if the margins are razor-thin. Both Biden and Trump campaigned in the state on Monday, underscoring the stakes. No Democrat has won a US Senate race in Georgia in 20 years, but opinion surveys show both races as exceedingly close. The head-to-head runoff elections, a quirk of state law, became necessary when no candidate in either race exceeded 50 per cent of the vote in November. Biden's narrow statewide win in the November 3 election, the first for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1992, has given the party reason for optimism in a state dominated by Republicans for decades. More than 3 million Georgians voted early by mail or in person, shattering the record for runoff elections even before Election Day arrived. The two races drew nearly half a billion dollars in advertising spending since November 3, a staggering total that fueled a tsunami of television commercials. (With input from agencies)

Polls close in Georgia's critical Senate runoffs, candidates in close call

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, US voters turned up in huge numbers as Biden and<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-country-entitled-to-know-who-won-on-november-3-says-trump-340238"> Trump</a> set their sights on key battlegrounds states including Georgia during US elections 2020.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-us-election-2020-donald-trump-joe-biden-more-than-98-million-voted-to-elect-the-next-president-340039">US Elections Live:&nbsp;It is going to be a tight race, says Kamala Harris to US voters</a>

Opinion polls show<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-elections-2020-crucial-states-that-could-determine-course-of-the-race-340196#georgia-338289"> Democratic </a>presidential hopeful Joe Biden could disrupt Republican electoral power in Georgia which would be a huge setback for Trump since it is a GOP stronghold.

Both Trump and Biden have campaigned in the state in the hope of swinging voters who have been vacillating over their choice.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-biden-eye-florida-as-battleground-states-hold-sway-340285">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump, Biden eye Florida as battleground states hold sway</a>

Biden, however, is determined to upset the Republican applecart campaigning fiercely in the state including in Warm Springs and at a drive-in car rally in Atlanta. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-aid-worker-released-from-egyptian-jail-after-trumps-intervention-asks-people-to-vote-for-biden-340283">Biden</a> had attacked Trump's performance on COVID-19 asserting that it was "capitulation" and stated that the US president "shrugged, he swaggered and he surrendered."

Georgia had last voted for a Democratic in the 1992 elections when Bill Clinton took the state. Biden this time hopes to overturn the Republican advantage in the Red State.

In fact, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/win-or-lose-trump-and-bidens-parties-will-plunge-into-uncertainty-340281">Biden's</a> vice-presidential pick &nbsp;Kamala Harris, 56, campaigned in Atlanta, Georgia, signifying the importance of the state for the Democrats. There has been a record turnout of during the US election with over 3 million voters already exercised their franchise before polling day on November 3.

The crucial state has&nbsp;African-Americans in huge numbers comprising one-third of the population with&nbsp;much at stake for Democrats who hope to swing the state in their favour this time.

The southern state known for slavery and segregation during its history has been a Republican bastion.&nbsp;

The Democrats, however, have been trying to woo the African-Americans, as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-we-have-a-choice-in-front-of-us-we-need-to-deal-with-racial-disparity-says-kamala-harris-to-us-voters-340257">Kamala Harris</a> during her campaign said: "Donald Trump has this goal to turn 20 per cent of Black men out in favour of him, Donald Trump -- who pushed, as part of his popularity, the theme that the first Black man to be president of the United States was illegitimately there."

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, US voters turned up in huge numbers as Biden and Trump set their sights on key battlegrounds states including Georgia during US elections 2020.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, US voters turned up in huge numbers as Biden and Trump set their sights on key battlegrounds states including Georgia during US elections 2020. US Elections Live: It is going to be a tight race, says Kamala Harris to US voters Opinion polls show Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden could disrupt Republican electoral power in Georgia which would be a huge setback for Trump since it is a GOP stronghold. Both Trump and Biden have campaigned in the state in the hope of swinging voters who have been vacillating over their choice. Also Read: Trump, Biden eye Florida as battleground states hold sway Biden, however, is determined to upset the Republican applecart campaigning fiercely in the state including in Warm Springs and at a drive-in car rally in Atlanta. Biden had attacked Trump's performance on COVID-19 asserting that it was "capitulation" and stated that the US president "shrugged, he swaggered and he surrendered." Georgia had last voted for a Democratic in the 1992 elections when Bill Clinton took the state. Biden this time hopes to overturn the Republican advantage in the Red State. In fact, Biden's vice-presidential pick Kamala Harris, 56, campaigned in Atlanta, Georgia, signifying the importance of the state for the Democrats. There has been a record turnout of during the US election with over 3 million voters already exercised their franchise before polling day on November 3. The crucial state has African-Americans in huge numbers comprising one-third of the population with much at stake for Democrats who hope to swing the state in their favour this time. The southern state known for slavery and segregation during its history has been a Republican bastion. The Democrats, however, have been trying to woo the African-Americans, as Kamala Harris during her campaign said: "Donald Trump has this goal to turn 20 per cent of Black men out in favour of him, Donald Trump -- who pushed, as part of his popularity, the theme that the first Black man to be president of the United States was illegitimately there."

Key states in US elections 2020: Biden hopes to turn 'Red' Georgia into 'Blue' as Trump struggles

Police used water cannon to disperse protesters near Georgia's parliament on Monday and arrested several people calling for an early election.

The violence broke out a day after 20,000 people rallied in the centre of the Georgian capital Tbilisi to protest against the government and demand an early parliamentary election.

Dozens of protesters gathered in four places near parliament on Monday shouting "Long live Georgia!".

Hundreds of police officers were then deployed to the scene, who gave protesters 30 minutes to disperse before using water cannon. A Reuters reporter saw two policemen firing tear gas at a crowd at one of the locations, though police later denied using teargas.

Opposition activists said more than 20 protesters, including some opposition leaders, had been arrested.

One group of protesters remained in front of parliament afterwards, some giving speeches on a stage as police looked on.

Members of the ruling Georgia Dream party managed to get into the parliament building and attend a meeting after three of its entrances were opened. Opposition lawmakers did not attend the meeting.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said the opposition's actions went beyond peaceful demonstrations and that blocking entrances to parliament was illegal.

"The police acted competently and within the law," he said in a statement.

The protest took place days after the ex-Soviet country's parliament failed to pass a planned electoral reform, a move to full proportional representation from the mixed system at present.

Currently, almost half of the lawmakers in parliament are elected not by party lists, but in single-mandate constituencies.

The European Union's delegation in Georgia and the US Embassy released a joint statement on Monday saying they recognised "the deep disappointment of a wide segment of Georgian society" at parliament's failure to pass the constitutional amendments.

"We consider it essential to immediately work to restore trust through a calm and respectful dialogue between the government and all political parties and civil society with a view to finding an acceptable path forward," they said in the statement.

Police used water cannon to disperse protesters near Georgia's parliament on Monday and arrested several people calling for an early election. The violence broke out a day after 20,000 people rallied in the centre of the Georgian capital Tbilisi to protest against the government and demand an early parliamentary election.

Police used water cannon to disperse protesters near Georgia's parliament on Monday and arrested several people calling for an early election. The violence broke out a day after 20,000 people rallied in the centre of the Georgian capital Tbilisi to protest against the government and demand an early parliamentary election. Dozens of protesters gathered in four places near parliament on Monday shouting "Long live Georgia!". Hundreds of police officers were then deployed to the scene, who gave protesters 30 minutes to disperse before using water cannon. A Reuters reporter saw two policemen firing tear gas at a crowd at one of the locations, though police later denied using teargas. Opposition activists said more than 20 protesters, including some opposition leaders, had been arrested. One group of protesters remained in front of parliament afterwards, some giving speeches on a stage as police looked on. Members of the ruling Georgia Dream party managed to get into the parliament building and attend a meeting after three of its entrances were opened. Opposition lawmakers did not attend the meeting. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said the opposition's actions went beyond peaceful demonstrations and that blocking entrances to parliament was illegal. "The police acted competently and within the law," he said in a statement. The protest took place days after the ex-Soviet country's parliament failed to pass a planned electoral reform, a move to full proportional representation from the mixed system at present. Currently, almost half of the lawmakers in parliament are elected not by party lists, but in single-mandate constituencies. The European Union's delegation in Georgia and the US Embassy released a joint statement on Monday saying they recognised "the deep disappointment of a wide segment of Georgian society" at parliament's failure to pass the constitutional amendments. "We consider it essential to immediately work to restore trust through a calm and respectful dialogue between the government and all political parties and civil society with a view to finding an acceptable path forward," they said in the statement.

Police in Georgia detain protesters demanding early election

Thousands of opposition supporters rallied in Georgia on Sunday, demanding the government's resignation and early parliamentary polls after the increasingly unpopular ruling party backtracked on promised electoral reforms.

Protesters gathered outside the parliament building on the capital Tbilisi's main thoroughfare in one of the biggest anti-government rallies in years amid mounting pressure on the ruling Georgian Dream party led by powerful oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Demanding the government's resignation and snap parliamentary polls, the crowd waved Georgian and European Union flags, lit coloured flares and held up a giant banner with the anti-Ivanishvili slogan "All against One".

Opposition parties had called for the protest after forming an unprecedented united front against Georgian Dream, whose MPs last week voted down legislation to hold parliamentary elections next year under a new proportional voting system.

The opposition accused Ivanishvili of orchestrating the bill's failure, saying the ruling party unfairly benefits from the current voting system.

At an earlier protest on Thursday, some 10,000 people rallied in Tbilisi, vowing to hold "permanent mass protests" until their demands for snap polls are met.

Ivanishvili, Georgia's richest man, had announced "large-scale political reform" under pressure following mass street protests in June and July.

The summer protests saw a violent police crackdown in which 240 people were injured and two peaceful protesters lost an eye, including a teenage girl.

Georgian Dream, in power since 2012, has seen its popularity plummet amid widespread discontent over its failure to address economic stagnation and perceived backsliding on its commitment to democracy.

Critics have accused Ivanishvili, who is widely believed to be calling the shots in Georgia, of persecuting political opponents, suffocating critical media, and creating a corrupt political system where his private interests dominate government's decision-making.

Thousands of opposition supporters rallied in Georgia on Sunday, demanding the government's resignation and early parliamentary polls after the increasingly unpopular ruling party backtracked on promised electoral reforms.

Thousands of opposition supporters rallied in Georgia on Sunday, demanding the government's resignation and early parliamentary polls after the increasingly unpopular ruling party backtracked on promised electoral reforms. Protesters gathered outside the parliament building on the capital Tbilisi's main thoroughfare in one of the biggest anti-government rallies in years amid mounting pressure on the ruling Georgian Dream party led by powerful oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Demanding the government's resignation and snap parliamentary polls, the crowd waved Georgian and European Union flags, lit coloured flares and held up a giant banner with the anti-Ivanishvili slogan "All against One". Opposition parties had called for the protest after forming an unprecedented united front against Georgian Dream, whose MPs last week voted down legislation to hold parliamentary elections next year under a new proportional voting system. The opposition accused Ivanishvili of orchestrating the bill's failure, saying the ruling party unfairly benefits from the current voting system. At an earlier protest on Thursday, some 10,000 people rallied in Tbilisi, vowing to hold "permanent mass protests" until their demands for snap polls are met. Ivanishvili, Georgia's richest man, had announced "large-scale political reform" under pressure following mass street protests in June and July. The summer protests saw a violent police crackdown in which 240 people were injured and two peaceful protesters lost an eye, including a teenage girl. Georgian Dream, in power since 2012, has seen its popularity plummet amid widespread discontent over its failure to address economic stagnation and perceived backsliding on its commitment to democracy. Critics have accused Ivanishvili, who is widely believed to be calling the shots in Georgia, of persecuting political opponents, suffocating critical media, and creating a corrupt political system where his private interests dominate government's decision-making.

Thousands protest in Georgia demanding snap polls

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