Georgia protesters attempt to storm Tbilisi presidential palace

[ad_1] Rayhan Demytrie Caucasus correspondent in Tbilisi and

Henri Astier

Watch: Anti-government protesters try and storm presidential palace

Police in Georgia have clashed with anti-government protesters attempting to storm the presidential palace within the capital, Tbilisi.

Safety forces used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators.

The Caucasus nation has been in disaster for the reason that ruling Georgian Dream occasion claimed victory in final 12 months's parliamentary election, which the pro-European Union opposition says was stolen. Since then the federal government has paused talks on becoming a member of the EU.

The protest occurred on the identical day as native elections, which the opposition is basically boycotting following a authorities crackdown. One organiser had earlier known as for leaders of the Georgian Dream occasion to be arrested.

Waving Georgian and EU flags, tens of 1000's of protesters marched in central Tbilisi on Saturday.

One of many organisers, opera singer Paata Burchuladze, learn out a declaration urging the staff of the ministry of inner affairs to obey the need of the folks and to instantly arrest six senior figures from the Georgian Dream occasion.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/c5b2/live/76a96bd0-a147-11f0-9be2-514f62a90aaf.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/c5b2/live/76a96bd0-a147-11f0-9be2-514f62a90aaf.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c5b2/live/76a96bd0-a147-11f0-9be2-514f62a90aaf.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/c5b2/live/76a96bd0-a147-11f0-9be2-514f62a90aaf.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/c5b2/live/76a96bd0-a147-11f0-9be2-514f62a90aaf.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/c5b2/live/76a96bd0-a147-11f0-9be2-514f62a90aaf.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/c5b2/live/76a96bd0-a147-11f0-9be2-514f62a90aaf.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c5b2/live/76a96bd0-a147-11f0-9be2-514f62a90aaf.png.webp" loading="eager" alt="EPA Georgian opposition parties supporters clash with riot police during a rally after local elections in Tbilisi, Georgia, 4 October 2025." class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> EPA The opposition stated the goal of the protest was to "save democracy" in Georgia

Demonstrators then marched on the presidential palace and tried to enter the compound, prompting riot police to fireside pepper spray.

The demonstration follows a crackdown on activists, unbiased media and political opposition in latest months, with a lot of the leaders of the pro-Western opposition now behind bars.

Twenty-one-year-old Ia and her associates got here to the Saturday rally ready, dressed all in black, sporting helmets and gasoline masks.

"If we put on one thing vibrant it will likely be simpler to establish us, and in the event that they establish us we're going to jail," she stated, referring to the AI surveillance cameras put in on the principle Rustaveli Avenue – the point of interest for the continued protests.

A whole lot of protesters have been penalised with huge 5,000 Georgian lari ($1,835; £1,362) fines for what the authorities take into account an unlawful act of "blocking the streets".

"I need Georgian Dream to go. I need my nation again. I need to have the ability to reside peacefully and for my associates who're in jail, illegally imprisoned, to be free."

Ia sarcastically referred to the ruling occasion as "Russian Dream". This sentiment is shared by lots of the anti-government protesters.

Within the areas the Georgian Dream occasion enjoys assist with its message that it could possibly maintain the peace, whereas in city centres many Georgians imagine their authorities is performing in Russia's pursuits.

The protest occurred on the day of the municipal elections boycotted by most mainstream opposition events, whose leaders are in jail.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/fdb9/live/b55da7d0-a168-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/fdb9/live/b55da7d0-a168-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fdb9/live/b55da7d0-a168-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/fdb9/live/b55da7d0-a168-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/fdb9/live/b55da7d0-a168-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/fdb9/live/b55da7d0-a168-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/fdb9/live/b55da7d0-a168-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fdb9/live/b55da7d0-a168-11f0-928c-71dbb8619e94.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Three protesters dressed in black and wearing helmets and gas masks" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Some protesters had been wearing black with helmets and gasoline masks to make it more durable to be recognized

Occasions took a violent flip when a bunch of protesters tried to storm the presidential compound on Atoneli Road.

Irakli, 24, was attempting to catch his breath after escaping from that space.

"There have been lots of people, after which quite a lot of policemen with their faces lined, abruptly we glance behind us and see the gasoline launched, so all these folks began working, it was very chaotic and the police had been working and arresting folks.