Georgian police on Saturday fired tear gas and water cannons at anti-government protesters who tried to enter the presidential palace, as tens of thousands rallied during local elections after the opposition urged them to do so.
The ruling, populist Georgian Dream party Saturday faces its first electoral test since a disputed parliamentary poll a year ago plunged the Black Sea nation into turmoil and prompted Brussels to effectively freeze the EU-candidate country's accession process.
After polls closed at 1600 GMT, the party claimed in a Facebook post it had "won elections in all municipalities without exception." Official results are expected later in the evening.
Ahead of the demonstration, authorities pledged a tough response to those it cast as seeking "revolution".
Opera star–turned–activist Paata Burchuladze attended the Freedom Square demonstration to read out -- to loud applause -- a declaration claiming "power returns to the people," branding the government "illegitimate" and announcing a transition.
Demonstrators then marched toward the presidential palace and tried to enter the compound, prompting law enforcement to fire tear gas and water cannon. Protesters erected barricades and set them on fire.
Imprisoned reformist ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili had urged supporters to protest on election day for what he called the "last chance" to save Georgian democracy.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said plans for a "revolution" are doomed to fail, accusing organisers of "radicalism" and threatening "many may find themselves behind bars."
MNA
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