Protesters attack Georgian presidential palace as elections are underway

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: The Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced that the unrest in the capital is an attempt to stage a coup in the country.

 

“This is a direct attempt at a coup. They literally stormed the presidential palace,” he told a news conference, according to TASS news agency.

 

A demonstration is underway in Tbilisi, where protesters gathered throughout the day to protest the results of the municipal elections. Organizers urged the crowd to march to the presidential palace, where unrest later erupted.

 

Local government elections were held in Georgia on Saturday for city and municipal mayors, as well as city council members. Authorities have repeatedly warned that violations during the election-day protests will be punished in full accordance with the law.

 

Former leader of the United National Movement party Levan Khabishvili and Tbilisi city council member Zviad Kuprava have been arrested on charges of calling for the overthrow of the government.

 

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told a news conference that those who stormed the presidential palace in Tbilisi had committed a crime.

 

“What we saw on Atonali Street is a crime. Anyone who participated in this violent act will be held accountable,” he said.

 

The Georgian official blamed opposition parties, calling them foreign agents.

 

“This political force, this foreign agent, will be completely neutralized. They will no longer be allowed to be in Georgian politics,” he stressed.

 

According to Kobakhidze, several police officers were injured during the unrest.

 

“One of the injured officers is in a fairly serious condition. I think the people who did this should pray. The government will deal very strictly with anyone who raises a hand against a police officer,” he explained.

 

Polls closed for the elections in Georgia at 8:00 p.m. local time. According to the Central Election Commission, voter turnout was 33.5 percent as of 5:00 p.m. The final election results have not yet been announced, but the ruling party has announced its victory.

 

After the polls close, the heads of the precinct election commissions will submit final reports to the Central Election Commission, which will then announce preliminary results. Exit poll data is expected to be released soon.

 

Georgians elected mayors and legislative assemblies in 64 municipalities across the country, including the capital, Tbilisi. More than 3.5 million citizens in Georgia are eligible to vote. A total of 3,061 polling stations were open. Electronic ballot boxes were used in more than 90 percent of polling stations. Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m.

 

The situation at the polling stations was calm throughout the day. Only a few minor incidents involving observers and voters occurred.

 

More than 8,000 local and international observers from 55 organizations monitored the election process. More than 984 journalists from local and international media outlets also covered the vote.

 

However, anti-government protests have been widely covered by Western media.

 

Georgian police fired tear gas on Saturday to disperse anti-government protesters who had marched towards the presidential palace in the capital, Tbilisi, Deutsche Welle reported.

 

According to the report, tens of thousands of people, holding Georgian and European Union flags, gathered in Tbilisi’s Freedom Square to protest the opposition’s call for a local election.

 

Riot police pushed back protesters who tried to force their way into the presidential palace in the final minutes before the polls closed for the local elections.

 

Some opposition figures had called for a “peaceful revolution” against the ruling Georgian Dream party. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters.

 

The Georgian Dream party, seen as pro-Russian, is facing its first electoral challenge since winning last year’s parliamentary elections. The party has previously called for reducing Western interference in Georgia’s elections and improving relations with the European Union and Russia, positions that have drawn strong European reactions.

 

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has directly blamed EU Ambassador Pavel Khrechinsky for the ongoing unrest in Tbilisi.

 

According to Kobakhidze, the diplomat has openly supported what has been described as an attempt to overthrow the constitutional order in Georgia.

 

“You know that some foreign figures have openly supported the attempt to overthrow the constitutional order, including the EU representative. In this regard, the EU ambassador to Georgia bears a special responsibility,” Kobakhidze said. "Show good faith, step forward and clearly condemn the ongoing violence on the streets of Tbilisi. This is his direct duty, especially after we heard statements supporting this illegal coup attempt. Let's see how they react."