Georgia Election Body Confirms Ruling Party's Disputed Win Amid Protests

Georgia's Central Election Commission (CEC) has confirmed the ruling Georgian Dream party's victory in the October 31 parliamentary elections, despite widespread allegations of fraud and irregularities.

The CEC's decision has sparked protests and accusations of electoral theft from opposition parties and civil society groups.

The Georgian Dream party, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, won 53% of the vote, according to the CEC's final tally.

The main opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), came in second with 27% of the vote.

The UNM and other opposition parties have alleged that the election was rigged through ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and other forms of fraud.

They have called for the results to be annulled and new elections to be held.

The CEC has denied these allegations and has said that the election was conducted fairly.

However, international observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have said that the election was marred by irregularities and that the results should not be considered credible.

The OSCE has called for a new election to be held.

The US State Department has also expressed concern about the election results and has called for a "thorough investigation" into the allegations of fraud.

The EU has also called for an investigation and has said that it is "concerned" about the allegations of electoral irregularities.

The Georgian government has rejected these calls and has said that it will not hold a new election.

The protests against the election results have continued and there is a risk that they could escalate.

The situation in Georgia is being closely monitored by the international community.