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Georgian riot police clashed with thousands of protesters in Tbilisi on Saturday, using water cannons and pepper spray to disperse crowds near the presidential palace during the country’s municipal elections. The unrest unfolded as the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) Party declared victory in every municipality, despite a boycott by major opposition blocs.
According to Reuters, tensions escalated when demonstrators attempted to storm the presidential palace following opposition calls for a “peaceful revolution” against GD, which they accuse of being pro-Russian and authoritarian. Georgia’s Health Ministry reported that at least 21 security officers and six protesters were injured in the violent confrontations in central Tbilisi.
The demonstrations are the latest in a series of anti-government protests that have rocked Georgia since last October, when GD won a parliamentary election that opposition leaders claim was rigged. The government denies any wrongdoing. Since then, opposition groups have accused the party of abandoning Georgia’s pro-Western path and undermining democratic freedoms.
Georgia, once viewed as a model of Western-oriented reform in the post-Soviet region, has seen its ties with the European Union and the United States weaken amid growing internal political tensions and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The government’s decision to suspend EU accession talks last year further fueled public anger, drawing massive crowds waving Georgian and EU flags to Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue.
Protester Davit Mzhavanadze said the rallies reflected “a deep crisis formed by our pro-Russian and authoritarian government,” vowing that demonstrations would continue until officials respond to citizens’ demands. Meanwhile, GD insists it remains committed to EU membership while maintaining peaceful relations with Russia. Critics, however, argue the party—founded and influenced by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili—has tightened control over state institutions, pushing Georgia closer to Moscow’s orbit.
