Police in Georgia have clashed with anti-government protesters trying to storm the presidential palace in the capital, Tbilisi.
Security forces used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators.
The Caucasus country has been in crisis since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in last year's parliamentary election, which the pro-European Union opposition says was stolen. Since then the government has paused talks on joining the EU.
The protest took place on the same day as local elections, which the opposition is largely boycotting following a government crackdown. One organiser had earlier called for leaders of the Georgian Dream party to be arrested.
Waving Georgian and EU flags, tens of thousands of protesters marched in central Tbilisi on Saturday.
One of the organisers, opera singer Paata Burchuladze, read out a declaration urging the employees of the ministry of internal affairs to obey the will of the people and to immediately arrest six senior figures from the Georgian Dream party.
Demonstrators then marched on the presidential palace and tried to enter the compound, prompting riot police to fire pepper spray.
The demonstration follows a crackdown on activists, independent media and political opposition in recent months, with most of the leaders of the pro-Western opposition now behind bars.
SOURCE/AUTHOR : BBC NEWS - Henri Astier
Venues
'I will never let your legacy die' - Charlie Kirk's widow gives tearful address after shooting
One hellscape to another: Gazans tell of dire conditions in Israeli-declared humanitarian zone
Israeli forces near Gaza City centre as Hamas reportedly prepares for street-to-street fighting
Soldiers threaten to seize state TV in Madagascar, presidency says, amid warnings of coup attempt
Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees freed as Trump hails 'historic dawn' in Middle East
Israeli military's top lawyer resigns over leak of video allegedly showing abuse of Palestinian detainee
Israeli military's ex-top lawyer arrested over leak of video allegedly showing Palestinian detainee abuse
Bondi gunmen threw explosives at start of attack and practised shooting weeks before, police allege
CJP protest: India's 'Cockroach' protesters have wounds consistent with pellet-gun fire, experts say
Iran says it is in talks with Oman but not the US after Trump says negotiations to resume
Ethiopia's Addis Standard: Editor of top independent news site seized by police, publisher says
Israel confirms soldiers fired at car in which Hind Rajab was killed and opens criminal investigation
UK, Canada and Australia condemn Israel for refusing criminal probe into aid worker killings in Gaza
Iran faces 'greatest financial offensive ever', says US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Chinese-Eswatini relations: China advises its citizens to leave Taiwan ally over security risks
Iran says US strike killed four at wedding in 'war crime' as US denies targeting civilians
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment