Police in Georgia have arrested five people after clashes with anti-government protesters trying to storm the presidential palace in the capital, Tbilisi. Security forces used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators. The Caucasus country has been in crisis since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in last year's election, which the pro-European Union opposition says was stolen. Since then, the government has paused talks on joining the EU.
The protest took place on the same day as local elections, which the opposition is largely boycotting following a government crackdown. Georgian Dream won majorities in every municipality, with more than 80% of the vote. Those arrested included opera singer Paata Burchuladze, one of the protest organisers. Earlier, he read out a declaration urging the employees of the ministry of internal affairs to obey the will of the people and to immediately arrest six senior figures from the Georgian Dream party.
The government said 21 police officers and six protesters were taken to hospital with injuries. Waving Georgian and EU flags, tens of thousands of protesters marched in central Tbilisi on Saturday. Demonstrators then marched on the presidential palace and tried to enter the compound, prompting riot police to fire pepper spray.
The demonstration follows a crackdown on activists, independent media and political opposition in recent months, with most of the leaders of the pro-Western opposition now behind bars. On Sunday, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that 'no one will go unpunished' after what he claimed was an attempted overthrow of the government.
Events escalated as groups of protesters tried to breach the presidential compound, leading to chaotic scenes as police intervened. Protesters demand the release of political prisoners and snap elections, voicing their anger against the ruling party’s actions that they believe align with Russian interests. Street protests continue as many express their discontent with the current government’s authoritarian approach and growing political repression.
The protest took place on the same day as local elections, which the opposition is largely boycotting following a government crackdown. Georgian Dream won majorities in every municipality, with more than 80% of the vote. Those arrested included opera singer Paata Burchuladze, one of the protest organisers. Earlier, he read out a declaration urging the employees of the ministry of internal affairs to obey the will of the people and to immediately arrest six senior figures from the Georgian Dream party.
The government said 21 police officers and six protesters were taken to hospital with injuries. Waving Georgian and EU flags, tens of thousands of protesters marched in central Tbilisi on Saturday. Demonstrators then marched on the presidential palace and tried to enter the compound, prompting riot police to fire pepper spray.
The demonstration follows a crackdown on activists, independent media and political opposition in recent months, with most of the leaders of the pro-Western opposition now behind bars. On Sunday, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that 'no one will go unpunished' after what he claimed was an attempted overthrow of the government.
Events escalated as groups of protesters tried to breach the presidential compound, leading to chaotic scenes as police intervened. Protesters demand the release of political prisoners and snap elections, voicing their anger against the ruling party’s actions that they believe align with Russian interests. Street protests continue as many express their discontent with the current government’s authoritarian approach and growing political repression.
