EU officials have called for “restraint” in Georgia as government officials vowed to crack down following clashes between police and protesters over the weekend.
A protest on Saturday, October 4, touted by opposition figures as a “peaceful revolution”, drew tens of thousands of participants, marking the largest show of dissent in several months.
However, the demonstrations quickly descended into chaos when a group of protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace. Police used water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray to repel protesters in a standoff that lasted several hours.
Five of the demonstration’s organisers were later detained, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced the launch of an investigation into the event.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze vowed further arrests, saying “no one will go unpunished,” as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos issued a statement calling on Georgian authorities to respect citizens’ rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
“A constructive and inclusive dialogue involving all political actors and civil society is essential, and we call on every side to refrain from violence,” they said.
Georgian Dream landslide
The protest coincided with local elections in which the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed a landslide victory.
Georgian Dream won in every municipality, securing 80.8% of the vote nationwide, according to the Central Election Commission.
The vote was boycotted by the majority of opposition parties in protest at Georgian Dream’s rule, which they see as illegitimate.
Read more: Georgia’s local elections set to test democracy amid protests and arrests
The EU’s statement noted that the elections were held “amid widespread suppression of dissent.”
In early summer, six opposition leaders were jailed for refusing to take part in a controversial parliamentary investigation into the government that preceded Georgian Dream.
Independent media has also come under intense pressure in recent months and protesters face fines of 5,000 lari ($1,840 USD) for “blocking the streets”.
Competing claims
Both Georgian Dream officials and opposition figures have been quick to cast blame for the events of Saturday night.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze suggested on Sunday that foreign actors had been involved in the demonstration and even implied that EU diplomats had interfered with Georgian politics by supporting the protests.
The EU’s statement hit back at the claims, saying it “firmly rejects and condemns the disinformation against the EU’s role in Georgia.”
Meanwhile, former President Salome Zourabishvili condemned the attack on the palace, suggesting it was an organised attempt to delegitimize anti-government groups.
“This mockery of taking over the presidential palace can only be staged by the regime to discredit the 310 days peaceful protest of the Georgian people,” she wrote on social media.
“As the legitimate President, I formally reject this and continue standing with my people peacefully until we win new elections,” she continued.
Daily protests continue
The MIA announced on Sunday, October 5 that any further demonstrations in the coming days would be treated as “a continuation of yesterday’s attempt”.
Despite the warning, protesters took to Rustaveli Avenue on both Sunday and Monday, continuing the daily demonstrations that have now lasted 312 days.
Turnout, however, was modest. Organisers of the October 4 rally had hoped to reignite the protest movement, but as the dust settles, the weekend’s events appear instead to have deepened frustration and uncertainty for many.
Featured image:
Image: Protest in Georgia, October 4, 2025.
Source: Gocha Gogsadze via X
