The Central Election Commission’s (CEC’s) announcement of the final results of Georgia's controversial October 26 parliamentary election turned into a dramatic confrontation when David Kirtadze, an opposition commission member representing the Unity-National Movement, hurled black paint over CEC head Giorgi Kalandarishvili after a heated verbal exchange.

According to the CEC’s November 16 announcement, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party secured 53.93% of the vote, translating to 89 seats in the new parliament. The results have been met with widespread scepticism and allegations of fraud, and the announcement immediately triggered a mass protest outside the CEC building, with demonstrators rejecting the results and accusing Georgian Dream of rigging the election through voter intimidation, ballot tampering and widespread procedural violations. 

Inside the CEC, the paint-throwing incident occurred when Kirtadze was denied the opportunity to finish his speech, accused of going off-topic and ordered to leave the room. Kalandarishvili, citing regulations, cut Kirtadze off mid-sentence. "You have run out of the two minutes stipulated by the regulation. What are you doing here? Don't you think you're on the street? I will not let you finish your speech! Get out of here and have a good time!" Kalandarishvili declared sternly, visibly irritated.

Kirtadze, however, refused to back down. "If you wanted to comply with the regulations, you would have complied with something else. You are a shame, a disgrace to our country, a black stain," Kirtadze shot back, escalating the confrontation. 

In a moment of defiance, he smeared black paint on Kalandarishvili, yelling, "You don’t listen to the people. You’ve stolen Georgia’s future, you’re pushing the country toward Russia. You don’t even deserve to be called a traitor; you’re just ‘dot ru’ [a reference to alleged Russian interference], you’re a stain."

The black paint, a potent symbol in Georgia’s political discourse, evoked the opposition’s grievances over the alleged lack of transparency in the election process. The use of black paint also served as a striking metaphor for what Kirtadze and his allies view as the government’s systematic destruction of democratic values.

The session was momentarily interrupted as Kalandarishvili left to clean his face. When he returned, wearing an eye patch, he resumed the meeting, reaffirming Georgian Dream's parliamentary majority. The interruption, however, highlighted the deep divisions and mistrust that have defined the post-election period.

Official results

While Georgian Dream is set to have 89 MPs, Coalition for Change followed with 11.03% and just 19 seats, while the National Movement–Unity garnered 10.17% and 16 seats. Strong Georgia claimed 8.81% and 14 seats, and the For Georgia party, led by former Georgian Dream prime minister Giorgi Gakharia, earned 7.78%, securing 12 seats. Over 3.5mn voters participated in the election. 

Local observers have drawn attention to what they say is large-scale fraud, including confiscation of voters’ ID cards, obstruction of independent monitors, and instances of multiple voting facilitated by party-affiliated officials. Protesters have vowed not to recognise the new parliament, declaring it illegitimate and calling for new elections.

One of the opposition's primary claims regarding the elections’ illegitimacy has been the alleged lack of transparency at voting points. Black ink from markers used officially to mark ballots reportedly leaked through the paper, making voter choices visible. This breach of secrecy occurred as ballots were manually inserted by voters into electronic counting stations, often with election observers “assisting” in the process. Local and international election observers argued that this compromised the fundamental principle of a secret ballot, raising serious concerns about voter privacy and the integrity of the process. Thus, the use of black paint was a metaphor for the lack of electoral transparency that opposition figures claim has damaged the country’s democratic system.

International reactions have added further weight to the opposition’s grievances. The OSCE/ODIHR’s preliminary assessment criticised the elections, noting they were conducted in an environment of entrenched polarisation and marred by legislative changes that undermined fundamental freedoms. Members of the European Parliament have condemned the violations, warning that Georgia’s prospects for EU membership are at risk. Meanwhile, President Salome Zurabishvili rejected the election results outright, calling for an immediate investigation into electoral misconduct.

Criminal investigation 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched a criminal investigation into the November 16 incident, charging Kirtadze under Article 118 of the Criminal Code, which deals with the intentional infliction of serious bodily harm. While the physical damage to Kalandarishvili was minor, the legal framing of the charge reflects the government’s determination to suppress opposition protests.

On the other hand, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has made little progress in addressing allegations of election misconduct. Major claims of electoral fraud, including those concerning the breach of voter confidentiality and manipulation of results, have been dismissed or downplayed. Instead, the investigation has focused on summoning opposition political leaders to court for questioning, a move critics view as an attempt to shift attention away from the accusations against the ruling party.

While the CEC had 10 more days to present its final report, the decision to swiftly announce the meeting on the evening of November 15 and schedule it for the following morning has raised eyebrows. Critics argue that this timing was carefully chosen to minimise public backlash. With thousands of people leaving Tbilisi for Batumi ahead of the highly anticipated Saturday football match between Georgia and Ukraine, organising a large-scale protest in the capital became logistically challenging.

“Tomorrow [November 16], the CEC will summarise the final protocol. There's also a football game, and they hope to sneak in. Tomorrow in front of the CEC is the place to gather and fight. At 11 o'clock!" wrote Khatia Dekanoidze, a prominent figure from the Unity–National Movement, on her Facebook page, on November 15.

Protesters clash with police 

The rally outside the CEC headquarters escalated into a march, with participants blocking David Agmashenebeli Alley in protest against the final summary protocol signed by the commission earlier in the day. The demonstrators clashed with police, who swiftly intervened to clear the road.

The tension between protesters and law enforcement erupted into physical confrontations as officers pushed demonstrators onto the pavements. Amid the chaos, several arrests were made. Sergi Bzishvili, a representative of the patrol police, confirmed that two individuals were detained for blocking the road and obstructing police actions. Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a total of three arrests, citing “disobedience to lawful requests of the police and violation of public order”. 

The protesters’ attempts to block Agmashenebeli Alley were thwarted, but the determination of those gathered was far from subdued. As the march concluded, opposition politicians rallied the participants with a renewed call to action. Giorgi Vashadze, addressing the crowd, said that the day’s events were a litmus test for the government's strength — or lack thereof. 

“This is all their power,” he declared. “No matter how many policemen they send, today’s march was crucial. It showed the citizens’ mood towards the protocol signed by Kalandarishvili. Tomorrow, at 19:00, we gather at parliament. The civil sector has called for action, and we must join them!”

The protests, far from over, are set to intensify. Opposition leaders insist that the people’s voice will not be silenced, and the November 18 gathering is likely to escalate the fight for transparency and justice in Georgia’s contested elections. The streets of Tbilisi, charged with growing frustration and defiance, remain a stage for the unfolding political drama.