Police in Tbilisi, Georgia, confronted anti-government protesters as they attempted to breach the presidential palace. Security forces employed water cannons and pepper spray in an effort to disperse the crowd.
The protests have arisen amid ongoing political tensions in the country, particularly following the ruling Georgian Dream party’s victory in the previous year’s parliamentary elections. The opposition, which aligns with pro-European Union sentiments, has claimed that the election results were fraudulent. In the wake of these events, the Georgian government has suspended discussions regarding European Union membership.
The protest coincided with local elections, which the opposition has largely chosen to boycott due to perceived government repression. One of the event’s organizers previously called for the arrest of officials associated with the Georgian Dream party.
Waving flags representing Georgia and the European Union, tens of thousands participated in the demonstration held on a Saturday. One organizer, opera singer Paata Burchuladze, publicly urged employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to adhere to the will of the people and called for the immediate arrest of six senior party members.
The protesters proceeded towards the presidential palace, where they faced resistance from riot police who used pepper spray to halt their advance. This demonstration reflects broader concerns over recent actions against activists, independent media, and political opposition in the region. Many leaders from the pro-Western opposition are currently imprisoned, further intensifying the political climate in Georgia.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce86kgnj7zro?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss