Viktor Orban BOOED as he leaves hotel in Tbilisi amid Russia-election rigging row

Orban congratulated the ruling party for its “overwhelming victory” in the elections, despite widespread concern that many voters had been intimidated and coerced.

Arriving in the city to meet Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s Prime Minister, Orban said: “Hungary is a peace-loving country in Europe, and we greatly value your efforts, as you are on the side of peace too.

He continued. “Nobody wants their own country to be destroyed and involved in war. Therefore, we understand the Georgian people’s decision to choose in favour of freedom.”

Leaving his hotel in Tbilisi, the Hungarian PM, was booed by Georgians angered by the party’s win.

Opposition parties have disputed the results, with President Salome Zourabichvili stating that the election had been fraudulent, calling on Georgians to take to the street to protest.

“So this is an election that has been stolen and I think that the Georgian people on the streets will confirm this judgement,” she told Deutsche Welle.

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The vote was seen as crucial on whether Georgia would become more integrated with the EU, or turn to Russian-influenced authoritarianism.

The Kremlin has denied interfering in the election, stating that it is instead an attempt from the West to cause political turmoil in the country.

Orban’s trip to Tbilisi has angered fellow EU leaders, particularly in light of Hungary holding the rotating EU presidency.

Thirteen ministers from EU countries slammed the trip from the Hungarian PM, which was not coordinated with Brussels.

“We criticise Prime Minister Orbán’s premature visit to Georgia,” said the statement, signed by France, Germany and Poland and 10 other member states.

“He does not speak on behalf of the EU.”

Orban “does not represent the European Union” during his visit, Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, said.

“The union’s rotating president has no authority in foreign policy,” he said.

Orban has repeatedly clashed with European countries over concerns that he has undermined democratic practices in Hungary, and focused instead on forging close relationships with Russia and China outside of EU policy.

In July, Orban was embroiled in controversy when he travelled, in what the Hungarian government described as a “peace mission”, to Moscow and Beijing without coordinating with any EU members.