The newly elected Georgian parliament has opened its inaugural session as opposition lawmakers and the country’s ceremonial president stayed away and thousands of protesters rallied outside.

The inaugural session of the Georgian parliament took place in Tbilisi on Monday. The opposition, which does not recognize the results of the October elections, boycotted the proceedings. Protests are ongoing outside the building,

Georgia’s ruling party convened parliament for its first session since last month’s election even as opposition lawmakers enforced a boycott and protesters continued street demonstrations over the results.

Georgia’s parliament on Monday approved the mandate of its newly elected lawmakers as protests continue in the capital Tbilisi over last month’s election results.

The newly elected Georgian Parliament on Monday recognised the powers of all elected 150 MPs, with 88 votes in favour of the decision.

Lawmakers from Georgia's ruling party opened the first session of parliament on Monday after last month's disputed election, defying protesters outside and a boycott by opposition parties who say the vote was illegitimate.

VOA Russian's correspondent reports from Georgia, where the first session of the new parliament is meeting after the election won by the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party was boycotted by the opposition and met with street protests outside the parliament building.

Georgia's new parliament met for the first time Monday, with the chamber facing serious questions over its legitimacy amid a boycott by opposition parties and the president declaring it unconstitutional.

By Ailis Halligan in Tbilisi Several thousand demonstrators, mobilised by Georgia’s political opposition, gathered in Tbilisi on November 25 to protest the 11th Convocation of the Georgian parliament,