Opposition protests turned violent as riot police deployed tear fuel and water cannon close to the presidential palace.
Revealed On 4 Oct 2025
Georgian riot police have deployed water cannon, pepper spray and tear fuel to disperse protesters who tried to storm the presidential palace in Tbilisi throughout municipal elections.
The clashes occurred on Saturday after opposition teams, who had boycotted the vote, known as for a “peaceable revolution” towards the governing Georgian Dream (GD) celebration, accusing it of authoritarianism and adopting pro-Russia insurance policies.
Really helpful Tales
listing of three gadgetsfinish of listing
Hundreds of individuals gathered in Freedom Sq. and Rustaveli Avenue waving Georgian and EU flags in what organisers mentioned was a present of defiance towards GD. Some later barricaded close by streets, lit fires and clashed with riot police.
Within the night, a bunch of demonstrators moved in the direction of the palace and tried to interrupt by means of the fence, in line with witnesses.
The Ministry of Inner Affairs later declared the rally illegal, saying it had “exceeded the norms set by regulation.” Police then pushed protesters again with drive.
“As we speak is the end result of a deep disaster which is completely fashioned by our pro-Russian and authoritarian authorities,” protester Davit Mzhavanadze informed native media, in line with a report carried by Reuters. “I believe this protest will proceed till these calls for can be responded to correctly from our authorities.”
The governing GD, which introduced it had received management in each municipality throughout the nation of three.7 million, rejected accusations of vote-rigging. The celebration, based by billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, denies being pro-Moscow. It says it seeks EU membership whereas sustaining stability with Russia.
Georgia, as soon as seen as one of the vital pro-Western states to emerge after the Soviet Union’s collapse, has seen its ties with Europe and the US deteriorate since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The federal government froze accession talks with the European Union following final yr’s disputed parliamentary election, sparking months of demonstrations.
Saturday’s confrontation was probably the most critical flare-up in months after earlier protests had misplaced momentum. Authorities had warned prematurely that they’d reply firmly to any try at what they described as a push for “revolution”.