Georgians have begun voting in snap presidential elections seen as a test of the democratic credentials of Mikhail Saakashvili, the country’s pro-western president.

Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili appeared poised for re-election Sunday, but his chief opponent rejected early results and called a street protest, threatening the ex-Soviet republic with turmoil.

Mikhail Saakashvili, the Georgian president, has claimed victory in the country’s presidential elections, but the opposition cried foul and called for mass protests.