However, the results were annulled by the Georgia Supreme Court after the Rose Revolution on 25 November,[1] following allegations of widespread electoral fraud and large public protests which led to the resignation of Shevardnadze.

Reports of violence, voter intimidation and ballot box stuffing began coming in shortly after the polling stations opened.

I think there were also (those in) government (who) did not want this election to be orderly because they knew they would lose it," said Ghia Nodia of the Caucasus Institute for Democracy and Development.

"These elections have, regrettably, been insufficient to enhance the credibility of either the electoral or the democratic process," said Bruce George, special co-ordinator of the OSCE chairman-in-office.

[2][3] Supporting the allegations of electoral fraud were also exit polls conducted by an American company, Global Strategy, which showed that the opposition had won by a large margin, with the National Movement coming first with 20% and the government block polling only 14% of the vote.