Tbilisi, Georgia
AP
–
Georgia police used cannons and pepper sprays to push back protesters on Saturday trying to raid the President’s Palace. The South Caucasus country held local elections boycotted by major opposition blocs amid sweep of dissent.
Tens of thousands gathered in Tbilisi, the capital, to protest against oppressive policies by Georgia’s governing parties. Georgian Dream believes he is trying to pull Georgia from his democratic aspirations into Russia’s orbit.
They carried Georgia flags and placards to support their membership in the European Union.
George Andreem stopped discussing joining the block last year, sparking a wave of protests that encountered mass arrests and police violence. The move said the opposition parties merged after the longtime ruling party declared victory in the election.
Large and small gatherings continue despite multifaceted government crackdowns through laws targeting protesters, rights groups, non-governmental organizations and independent media. Critics say some have modeled the law passed in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin was defied from objections.
“We will fight for our rights and for independence,” protester Sophio Asatiani told the Associated Press on Saturday. She said she didn’t want to see a return to the Soviet era when Georgia was ruled from Moscow.
Rally organizers, including veteran opera singer Paata Berturase, called on protesters to “want to have the power in the hands of people,” leading to widespread complaints with the government that had imprisoned key opposition, shutting down important media and closing large arrests.
They then attempted to force an invasion of the Presidential Palace in central Tbilisi, and to destroy the gates before being kicked out by riot police.
Opposition parties promised a “peaceful revolution” before Saturday’s city election and were boycotted by most political parties critical of Georgia’s dreams. Preliminary data from the Central Election Commission pointed out a voter turnout of less than 30% earlier in the day.
Giorgi Lukatze, a political analyst in Tbilisi, who was one of the protesters marching Saturday, dismissed the vote as a “mock election.”
“The only way to peacefully drive Georgian’s dreams out of power is illegal or not violation,” he said.
Georgian police said Saturday that ongoing rally violated Georgia laws regulating public rally and protests. It did not provide details.
