Overview

• Tens of thousands rallied in Tbilisi as a group tore down a metal fence and tried to enter the President’s Palace, where police used tear gas and a water cannon to push them back.
• Georgia’s Health Ministry said 21 police officers and 6 demonstrators were hospitalized, and local reports noted arrests during the clashes near the palace.
• Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the unrest an attempted overthrow and vowed severe penalties after previously warning of a tough police response to any disorder.
• Amnesty International and other rights groups say the vote took place under political repression, citing roughly 60 arrests of opposition figures, journalists and activists over the past year.
• The elections served as a key test for the Russia‑friendly Georgian Dream after the disputed 2024 parliamentary vote, with parts of the opposition boycotting and jailed ex‑president Mikheil Saakashvili urging supporters to act.