US EditionTens of Thousands March Against Georgia's Government as Local Election Snubbed by Opposition Held
Local elections intensify political crisis with opposition split on participation and ongoing protests amid arrests and government crackdown, experts say ruling party retains advantage.
- On October 4, opposition leaders in Georgia are using local elections to try to revive anti-government protests, while a boycott call has exposed divisions within the United National Movement.
- Mass demonstrations that began in late 2024 followed alleged parliamentary vote violations and a halt to European Union accession talks, while Mikheil Saakashvili, former President of Georgia, faces a 12.5-year sentence and over 3 million dollars in fines.
- Security forces have responded to demonstrations with tear gas, rubber bullets and reported beatings; on October 1, Zviad Kuprava was detained after urging protests, and activist Gela Khasaya was arrested on September 29.
- Tensions have been rising in recent weeks as the vote approaches, producing scuffles; protests have fallen from over 300 daily demonstrations but focused rallies still draw crowds, analysts say the boycott weakened the opposition while Georgian Dream benefited.
- The crisis has persisted since late 2024, tied to alleged election violations and stalled EU talks, while the United National Movement calls for mass protests and Georgian Dream absorbs pressure; analysts say only violence could shift the crisis.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Major opposition parties boycotted the vote.
Persecution of opposition figures and civil society groups ahead of Georgia election sparks international concern
Amnesty International on Friday expressed concern over the rampant campaign of violence occurring in Georgia in the run up to its October 4 local elections, citing the prosecution of opposition figures, the silencing of independent media and civil society, and the arbitrary detention of protesters. Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Directo Denis Krivosheev stated: “The Georgian authorities must uphold their human rig…
Today the local elections, one year after the legislative ones won by Dream Georgian but judged rigged by the oppositions that triggered months of harshly repressed demonstrations. The former footballer and leading figure of the party to the government runs without real rivals in the capital. Boycott of the opposition that asks Georgians to go to the square
The stakes of the election are mostly symbolic, given the state of tension in the country. ...
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- 46% of the sources lean Left, 45% of the sources are Center
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