Protests in Tblisi as ruling party declared victory in recent election
發佈日期: 2025-10-05 18:28
TVB News
In Georgia, riot police used pepper spray and water cannons to force protesters away from the presidential palace on Saturday, as protesters opposed to the government staged a large demonstration on the day of municipal elections.
The governing Georgian Dream Party said it had clinched victory in every municipality across the country in an election boycotted by the two largest opposition blocs.
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the Georgian capital Tblisi Saturday to call for the resignation of the current government. Many waving the Georgian flag, some the EU flag.
Sopho Asatiani, a teacher said, "We fight for our rights, for independence. We want our country to be member of European Union, so we do not want to be Russia. We do not want to enter Russia, to return in Soviet Republic. So, we fight for our rights, for independence , for justice and for human rights."
And Giorgi Rukhadze, a political analyst said, "Today was a mock elections conducted in Georgia, which has nothing to do with elections in its traditional and democratic sense. This is one of those days when people took to the streets and we will continue until the aim is achieved and Georgian people get power back and the Russian regime is pushed out of power."
By Saturday evening the scene was not so peaceful as clashes with police prevailed. Barricades set up by police were burnt and some moved.
They see the ruling Georgian Dream party pulling the country away from its democratic aspirations and into Russia's orbit.
The ruling Georgian Dream halted talks about joining the EU bloc last year triggering waves of protests that have been met with mass arrests and police violence.
Many believe this latest election was rigged as the longtime ruling party declared victory. Rallies big and small have continued in the country despite a multipronged crackdown by the government.
