Viktor Orban has declared the election in Georgia “free and democratic” despite huge protests over claims the vote was rigged by Russia.

Hungary’s pro-Putin prime minister travelled to Tbilisi for a two-day visit to offer his support to Irakli Kobakhidze, his Georgian counterpart, defying criticism of the vote by his fellow EU members.

Mr Kobakhidze’s ruling Georgian Dream party tilted towards Moscow before the electoral battle between pro-Western and pro-Russian forces, which has jeopardised Georgian hopes of one day joining the EU.

“You did not lose the election,” Salome Zourabichvili, the president, told the demonstrators who waved Georgian and EU flags outside the parliament on Monday night.

“They stole your vote and tried to steal your future, but no one has the right to do that and you will not let anyone do that.”

Ms Zourabichvili, a mostly ceremonial president, told the crowd that she would defend the country’s path toward Europe.

“We’ve seen that Russian propaganda was directly used,” she said, and accused Georgian Dream of working hand in hand with Putin.