by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
TBILISI/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a sweeping crackdown on dissent after protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace during local elections. Riot police repelled demonstrators with water cannon and pepper spray in central Tbilisi.
Authorities said at least five protesters were detained, including two members of the opposition United National Movement and opera singer-turned activist Paata Burchuladze. The health ministry reported that 21 members of the security forces and six demonstrators were injured in the clashes.
Kobakhidze accused the protesters of trying to topple his government. “No one will escape responsibility. This includes political responsibility,” he was quoted as saying by the Georgian news agency Interpress. He added that “several people have already been arrested – first and foremost the organisers of the attempted overthrow.”
The prime minister also accused the European Union of interference and singled out the EU’s ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, as “bearing special responsibility” for what he called an “announced attempt to overthrow the constitutional order.”
He urged the envoy to “distance himself and strictly condemn everything that is happening on the streets of Tbilisi.”
RIGHTS GROUPS ALARMED
International rights groups expressed alarm. Amnesty International warned the local elections were “marred by severe reprisals and a risk of further violence,” citing harassment of journalists and restrictions on peaceful assembly.
The International Crisis Group urged the ruling Georgian Dream party to “halt its crackdown,” saying continued repression would push the nation further from European integration.
European politicians have also voiced concern. In earlier statements, the European Union said progress toward membership depends on respect for democratic norms and the rule of law. Some EU lawmakers have already called for coordinated measures against Tbilisi if the crackdown deepens.
The demonstrations reflected months of growing unrest in the South Caucasus nation. Georgia’s talks on joining the European Union have been frozen since last year’s disputed parliamentary election, which the opposition says was stolen by the ruling party.
Thousands of protesters waving Georgian and EU flags marched through the capital demanding change before the crackdown.
PRIME MINISTER PRESSURED
It comes amid pressure on Kobakhidze, 46, a lawyer and long-time strategist of Georgian Dream.
He became prime minister in February 2024 after previously serving as parliament speaker.
Critics say he has steered the country closer to Moscow while suspending EU accession talks until at least 2028. Supporters view him as a defender of national sovereignty against what he calls “foreign interference.”
Georgia has had a turbulent recent history. In 2008, it fought a brief war with Russia over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which remain under Moscow’s control. Former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who came to power after the 2003 Rose Revolution, pursued pro-Western reforms but later faced accusations of abuse of power.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has been in office since 2012, presenting itself as a stabilizing force but often accused of democratic backsliding.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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