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.

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,

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.

Several thousand Georgian demonstrators took to the streets on Monday to protest against what they say was fraud in last month's parliamentary election, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party, seen as increasingly pro-Russian,

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.

The head of Georgia’s Central Electoral Commission was doused with black paint Saturday at a meeting to confirm the results of the country’s divisive Oct. 26 parliamentary elections.

Georgia’s parliament set Dec. 14 as the date for selecting a new president, as lawmakers continue to meet despite an opposition boycott over the results of last month’s elections.Most Read from BloombergNew York City’s ‘Living Breakwaters’ Brace for Stormier SeasIn Kansas City,

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.