Pro-EU Protesters Clash with Police in Tbilisi Amidst Boycotted Local Elections

TBILISI, GEORGIA - Tens of thousands of pro-European Union protesters took to the streets of Tbilisi today, escalating a long-running political crisis as the country held municipal elections largely boycotted by the opposition. The massive anti-government rally culminated in violent clashes with riot police as a group of demonstrators attempted to storm the Presidential Palace.

Waving Georgian and EU flags, protestors gathered in central Tbilisi, demanding the release of political prisoners, snap elections, and a reversal of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party's policy shift away from the country's pro-Western course. The protests coincided with local elections that the main opposition blocs dismissed as a "mock election" and largely boycotted, citing a widespread government crackdown on dissent, independent media, and civil society.

Clashes Near Presidential Palace

The demonstration turned violent when a group of protestors attempted to breach the fence of the Presidential Palace. Riot police responded with force, deploying water cannons, pepper spray, and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Protesters were also reported to have erected and set fire to barricades.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs later declared the rally unlawful. Local media reported that the clashes resulted in injuries to both demonstrators and police personnel.

The unrest comes nearly a year after disputed parliamentary elections that the pro-EU opposition claimed were fraudulent. Following that vote, the GD government, which critics accuse of authoritarianism and pro-Russian leanings, froze accession talks with the European Union, a move that sparked the initial wave of protests.

Opposing Narratives on the Vote

The ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, has declared a sweeping victory in the local elections, claiming control of every municipality. Meanwhile, opposition figures, some of whom were arrested in the days leading up to the vote, have denounced the elections as illegitimate. Organizers of today's rally had called for a "peaceful revolution" to remove the government.

The political turmoil is viewed by critics as part of a broader "rights crisis," with new restrictive laws mirroring Russian legislation and an ongoing crackdown on opposition leaders and rights groups. For many Georgians, a pro-Western future and EU integration remain a deeply cherished, constitutionally enshrined goal, and today's mass turnout underscores the depth of the country's political polarization.

The following video shows some of the clashes that erupted on election day: Violence Erupts In Georgia, Riot Police Clash With Protesters Outside Presidential Palace In Tbilisi. This video provides footage of the violent clashes that occurred in Tbilisi during the protests.