Georgia Erupts in Chaos After Pro-Russian Party Claims Victory—Police Arrest Opposition Leaders

Georgian riot police used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse protesters outside the presidential palace in Tbilisi late on October 4, detaining several opposition figures following clashes that erupted during local elections, according to Echo of the Caucasus and RFE/RL’s Georgian Service.

Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said five protest organizers had been taken into custody, including activist and former opera singer Paata Burchuladze and opposition figure Murtaz Zodelava.

They were charged with “calls for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order” and “participation in organized group violence,” offenses that carry prison terms of up to nine years, the ministry said.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the “attempt to overthrow the government has failed” and promised “strict punishment” for those involved. “Much stricter measures will follow in the coming days,” he said, adding that authorities were monitoring the situation closely.

Thousands of people carrying Georgian and EU flags had gathered in central Tbilisi after opposition parties urged citizens to boycott the October 4 municipal elections, denouncing what they described as a fraudulent process favoring the ruling Georgian Dream party.

According to the Central Election Commission, the party claimed victory in all municipalities, with Tbilisi mayor Kakha Kaladze reportedly securing over 70 percent of the vote.

Police said that when protesters attempted to breach the fence around the presidential palace, the demonstration “exceeded the limits set by law.” Witnesses and footage published by RFE/RL’s Georgian Service showed officers deploying water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray to push back the crowd.

The Interior Ministry reported that 21 police officers and six protesters were injured during the clashes, though those figures could not be independently verified.

Before his arrest, Burchuladze had called on law enforcement “to listen to the voice of the people” and detain senior officials from Georgian Dream.

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Former President Salome Zurabishvili, who has publicly opposed the ruling party, condemned the violence and accused the government of “staging” the assault on the palace to discredit the opposition. “This parody of an attack could only be orchestrated by the regime itself,” she said.

Rights organizations also expressed concern over the crackdown. Amnesty International said it had documented “a large-scale campaign of repression, including politically motivated prosecutions of opposition figures, restrictions on media and civil society, and widespread arbitrary detentions.”

Earlier, on November 28, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would delay EU accession talks until the end of 2028. The decision triggered mass protests in Tbilisi, where thousands gathered in Freedom Square. Clashes between police and demonstrators turned violent, with authorities using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

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