Massive pro-EU rally in Georgia as country prepares for crucial vote

Tens of thousands of Georgians staged on Sunday a pro-Europe rally, days before parliamentary elections seen as a crucial test for the country's democracy and its bid for EU membership.

Saturday's vote will pit an unprecedented alliance of pro-Western opposition forces against the ruling Georgian Dream party, accused by Brussels of shifting towards authoritarianism and derailing EU candidate Tbilisi from its European path.

Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili -- at loggerheads with the government -- said she will join the rally, which "will demonstrate people's will for freedom, independence, and a European future."

Tens of thousands of demonstrators, waving EU and Georgian flags and holding banners that read "Georgia chooses the European Union" gathered at Tbilisi's central Freedom Square after marching toward the venue from five different locations, AFP journalists on the scene reported.

Several Georgian NGOs, including Georgia's European Orbit and the "My Voice to the EU" coalition, called on Georgians to stage there a mass rally from 7:00 pm (1500 GMT).

"Choosing unity, development, and the European Union, Georgians will rally on October 20 (Sunday) and show their resolve to pursue the path of EU membership," organisers said on Facebook.

Brussels froze Georgia's EU accession process after Georgian Dream lawmakers this spring passed a controversial "foreign influence law" targeting civil society.

 'Crucial test' 

 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".

He called the upcoming polls "a crucial test for democracy in Georgia and its European Union path."

Opinion polls suggest opposition parties are likely to garner enough votes in Saturday's election to form a coalition government and replace the ruling party, controlled by powerful billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Analysts have warned of the risk of turmoil if Georgian Dream attempts to hold onto power regardless of the vote's outcome.

In power since 2012, the party 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 amid its invasion of Ukraine.

Bids for membership of the EU and NATO are enshrined in Georgia's constitution and supported by some 80 percent of the population, according to multiple opinion polls commissioned by groups including the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute.