Local Elections, Protests, Water Cannons, and Tear Gas: What Is Happening in Georgia? (VIDEO)
Yesterday’s local elections in Georgia took place amid a partial opposition boycott, a low level of credible monitoring, continued repression by the ruling Georgian Dream party, arrests of protesters and opposition members, as well as the suppression of independent media and watchdog organizations, reports the Georgian portal civil.ge.
These elections come roughly a year after the disputed parliamentary elections and only ten months after the start of ongoing protests triggered by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s announcement to halt the country’s integration into the EU.
Parallel to the voting, a mass rally is being held in front of the Parliament in Tbilisi, with the clearly stated goal of “peacefully overthrowing” the Georgian Dream government – reports Danas.
⚡️ BREAKING: Protesters in Tbilisi have stormed the presidential palace, breaking through metal barricades
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 4, 2025
The situation is escalating.
Earlier today, thousands took to the streets of the Georgian capital to protest against the municipal elections. pic.twitter.com/YoXQahgqD9
Protesters broke through barricades near Freedom Square as large numbers of special police forces arrived at the scene.
Special police used water cannons and tear gas in Atoneli Street, near the presidential palace. A warning siren was sounded, urging protesters to disperse.
Protestors clashing with police in Tbilisi as demonstrators have broken onto the closed property of the Presidential Palace.
— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) October 4, 2025
If Putin loses Georgia, the dominoes will rapidly fall. pic.twitter.com/0xCJxU6cOL
Additional units of the special police are moving from Rustaveli Street toward Atoneli Street, near the presidential palace.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that “the current protest violates the provisions of the Law on Assemblies and Public Demonstrations. Organizers have been calling for violence. Security barriers at the Presidential Palace on Atoneli Street were damaged, and an attempt was made to forcibly enter the building.”
The statement continues: “The Ministry of Internal Affairs once again urges all participants in the protest to obey the lawful orders of the police and not to contribute to the artificial escalation of the situation. Otherwise, the police will take appropriate measures in accordance with the law.”
At the headquarters of the Georgian Dream party, leaders are celebrating exit poll results showing that Tbilisi’s mayor, Kakha Kaladze, won 76.3 percent of the vote.
Situation in Georgia's Tbilisi.pic.twitter.com/8q5tcNvPyN
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 4, 2025
Kaladze, a member of the ruling Georgian Dream party, described the events on Atoneli Street as “a direct attempt at a coup d’état,” promising “an appropriate response” and declaring that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Official results have not yet been announced, but the Prime Minister from the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, held a briefing stating that the ruling party won more than 70 percent of the vote in all municipalities across Georgia.
He added that voter turnout exceeded 1,430,000 voters, which he described as “very high” for local elections.
Commenting on the tensions around Freedom Square, Kobakhidze said: “We warned these people about harsh responses.”
“What we saw, for example, on Atoneli Street, is a criminal act. Every person who took part in this violence will be held accountable.”
He also stated: “I assumed that, given this level of violence, we would have to arrest far more than 30 shameless participants.”
On its official Facebook page, Georgian Dream announced that it had won in all municipalities in the first round, with the message:
“We started on October 4 and finished on October 4” – an obvious message to the protest organizers who had claimed their “revolution” would begin and end that day with a change of power.
