Tbilisi protests flare as Georgian Dream sweeps local elections

Tbilisi's streets filled with thousands of protesters opposing the ruling Georgian Dream party's dominance, following local elections on October 4, 2025, that saw the party claim victory in all 64 municipalities in the first round. The demonstrations, sparked by opposition allegations of electoral fraud, turned violent as crowds attempted to breach the presidential palace, met with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets from riot police.

The protests started as former football star and incumbent mayor Kakha Kaladze of the ruling Georgian Dream party won a decisive victory in Tbilisi's mayoral election, showcasing the party's nationwide success, preliminary results showed on Sunday.

According to preliminary results from the Central Election Commission, with 99 percent of the ballots counted, Kaladze received 71.58 percent of the vote, defeating his nearest rivals Irakli Kupradze of the opposition with 12.4 percent and Iago Khvichia with 7.5 percent.

Twelve parties competed in the local elections across Georgia on Saturday, with around 3.5 million citizens eligible to vote, the Central Election Commission said.

International observers from 28 organizations and nearly 1,000 journalists monitored the elections. Voter turnout exceeded 40 percent across the country, according to the commission.

From Rally to Chaos

The demonstration began peacefully at Freedom Square, where opera singer and activist Paata Burchuladze called for a “peaceful power transfer” and urged security forces to arrest six senior Georgian Dream figures. Protesters, waving Georgian and EU flags, marched toward the Orbeliani Palace, home of President Mikheil Kavelashvili. Some demonstrators broke through outer barricades, setting tires and furniture ablaze and throwing stones and firecrackers, while police responded with force, injuring at least six protesters and 14 officers. Footage showed smoke rising over Rustaveli Avenue as clashes continued into the night.

Former President Salome Zourabichvili, who claims legitimacy despite stepping down, condemned the palace breach as a "regime-staged" attempt to discredit the opposition’s 310-day peaceful protest. "As the legitimate president, I stand with my people until we secure new elections," she said.

Government Response and Arrests

The government labeled the protests "foreign-funded riots" aimed at overthrowing the elected leadership, with some supporters calling it a "color revolution" orchestrated by Western powers. Authorities arrested at least seven opposition figures charging them with plotting a "violent overthrow," which carries up to nine years in prison. 

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the protests a "direct coup attempt" and the "fifth Maidan" in four years, referencing Ukraine's 2014 uprising. He praised police for a "flawless operation" and warned, "No one will remain unpunished." Kobakhidze also accused the EU of meddling, urging its ambassador to “distance himself” from the unrest. Ivanishvili, addressing supporters, claimed 80 percent public backing and declared, "Today Georgia has regained its sovereignty."

International Reactions

The EU and US condemned the crackdown on protesters, with the European Parliament refusing to recognize the election results and imposing sanctions on Ivanishvili and Kobakhidze. Russian media, however, supported the government, characterizing the protests as "Western interference" in Georgia's sovereignty.