ISTANBUL

Protests in central Tbilisi escalated into clashes on Saturday as demonstrators stormed the courtyard of the Orbeliani presidential palace after the ruling party declared victory in local elections.

Several dozen protesters entered the palace grounds before being pushed back by police using tear gas. Despite this, demonstrators made repeated attempts to breach the compound, prompting the Internal Affairs Ministry to deploy additional forces to the area.

Police later used a water cannon and pepper spray to disperse crowds outside the palace.

The demonstrations began following local elections, which the opposition used as an opportunity to call for the restoration of Georgia’s suspended commitment to European integration.

They accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party of backtracking under what they describe as Western interference in the country’s internal affairs.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze earlier said the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party was winning local elections nationwide, with more than 70% of the vote, including in Tbilisi. He thanked voters for their support, pledging that the government would “justify this trust through hard work.”