Tensions ran high in Tbilisi, Georgia, as anti-government protesters made an attempt to storm the presidential palace. Security forces responded by deploying water cannons and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
The nation has been experiencing significant political unrest since the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in last year’s elections. Opposition parties, however, have alleged that the elections were rigged, leading to a boycott of the most recent local elections and a pause in EU accession talks.
The protest occurred on the same day as local elections, which were largely boycotted by the opposition due to a government crackdown on dissent. Despite this, the Georgian Dream party secured majorities in all municipalities.
Among those arrested was prominent opera singer Paata Burchuladze, a key organizer of the protests. He had previously read a statement calling for law enforcement officials to uphold the people’s will and arrest six senior figures from the ruling party.
Authorities reported that 21 police officers and six protesters sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. Tens of thousands of demonstrators, waving Georgian and EU flags, had marched through central Tbilisi on the day of the protest.
Some protesters adopted a strategy of wearing black clothing, helmets, and gas masks to avoid identification by AI surveillance cameras installed along Rustaveli Avenue, a central location for protests. Fines of 5,000 Georgian lari ($1,835; £1,362) have been imposed on hundreds of protesters for alleged street blockages.
One young protester, Ia, expressed her frustration, stating, “I want Georgian Dream to go. I want my country back. I want to be able to live peacefully and for my friends who are in jail, illegally imprisoned, to be free.” Many protesters referred to the ruling party derisively as “Russian Dream,” reflecting a sentiment that the government is acting in Russia’s interests, a stark contrast to the government’s message of maintaining peace, particularly in regional areas.
The situation remains volatile, with nightly protests continuing in Tbilisi. The demonstrators are demanding the release of political prisoners and the scheduling of early parliamentary elections.
The attempt to storm the presidential compound on Atoneli Street was described as a chaotic scene, with police making arrests amidst the use of crowd control measures. Some participants claimed that radical elements, not part of the main protest movement, were responsible for the escalation.