An “anti-vote-rigging” rally organized by the Labor Party drew only hundreds of demonstrators on December 5, the same day Green Party leader Giorgi Gachechiladze withdrew his bid, pledging support for the united opposition.

Labor supporters marched from Republic Square to parliament in support of “fair elections and a Georgia without a president” yesterday.

The previous day, Labor leader and presidential hopeful Shalva Natelashvili claimed United National Movement leader Mikheil Saakashvili—who resigned on November 25 to make way for snap presidential elections—had set aside GEL 1 million to orchestrate vote-rigging at the upcoming January elections.

Soso Shatverashvili, a prominent Labor member, told the Messenger the rally was a warning cry to the government. “On January 6, we’ll gather outside parliament with our supporters to see the results,” he said, adding that in the event of suspected election fraud, another demonstration would be staged.

Labor member Kakha Dzagania said any attempt at vote-rigging could be detected by voters if they are attentive on election day.

He also reiterated that Natelashvili’s priorities as president would be transforming the country into a parliamentary republic, returning property confiscated by the government to Tbilisi residents, and financial gifts for newlyweds and newborn babies.

“The new government must serve not only their pockets and their own families—they must serve the people,” he stated, adding that Saakashvili wouldn’t be successful in attempting to ‘bribe’ voters with one-off utilities vouchers and firewood handouts.

Also on December 5, Green Party leader Giorgi Gachechiladze announced he was pulling out of the presidential race to back Levan Gachechiladze (no relation) of the United National Council, a coalition of opposition parties.

According to Rustavi 2, the Green Party leader noted it was “better to concentrate on the one candidate” in the race against incumbent Saakashvili, adding that he agreed with the main points of the opposition coalition’s election program.

“We conducted an opinion poll which showed that Saakashvili’s rating is really low, and Levan Gachechiladze has a significant lead. That’s why the Green Party has decided [to support the united opposition],” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Tamaz Bibiluri, chairman of the 9 April organization, also dropped out of the race yesterday, stating he would boycott the elections owing to unfair conditions in the run-up to polling day, Rustavi 2 reported, leaving 16 contenders in the race.

Meanwhile, two prominent Russian MPs—Andrei Lugovoy and Vladimir Zhirinovsky—voiced support for prominent business mogul Badri Patarkatsishvili’s presidential bid, according to the Interfax news agency.

“He is a decent man, whereas Saakashvili is doing everything to destroy the Georgian nation…Saakashvili has actively disrupted Georgian–Russian relations,” Lugovoy commented.