The BBC published an article about Georgian Parliamentary elections titled “Georgia’s pro-EU opposition says election ‘stolen’ as ruling party leads.”

“Georgia’s increasingly authoritarian ruling party has claimed victory after preliminary results gave it a clear lead in a pivotal election focused on the country’s future path in Europe.

The Georgian Dream party of billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili is on 54%, based on more than 99% districts counted, the central election commission says.

The initial results were dramatically different from exit polls conducted by Western pollsters and the head of one of the opposition parties said they believed the vote had been “stolen from the Georgian people”, the article notes.

The British public broadcaster quotes the comments of the opposition leaders.

“We do not accept the results of these falsified elections,” said Tina Bokuchava, head of the United National Movement. Another opposition leader, Nika Gvaramia, said Georgian Dream had mounted a “constitutional coup”.

BBC highlights that both Georgian Dream and the four pro-EU opposition groups trying to end its 12 years in power had earlier claimed victory based on competing exit polls.

“Voters turned out in big numbers on Saturday in this South Caucasus state bordering Russia, and there were numerous reports of vote violations and violence outside polling stations,” BBC reported.