"Protesters gathered on September 9 in the Georgian capital a day after supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party attacked protesters participating in ongoing demonstrations over a government decision to halt European Union membership talks. Georgian Dream supporters pelted the demonstrators with bottles and rocks on September 8 in front of the campaign headquarters of Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who is running for reelection in local elections on October 4."
"Georgia has been thrown into turmoil since parliamentary elections in October 2024 in which Georgian Dream secured 54 percent of the vote. The opposition and Western governments argued that the poll was marred by violations and Russian influence. Opposition activists have been holding daily demonstrations since the elections. More protests followed the election after the Georgian Dream party's decision to stop accession talks with the European Union."
"Tensions were high on September 9 after at least 10 people, including journalists, reportedly were injured the day before. No arrests were made, according to police, but authorities launched a criminal investigation over damage to the mayor's campaign posters. During the protest on September 9, yogurt reportedly was poured over an election banner near Kaladze's campaign headquarters and an inscription on one of the banners reportedly was erased and replaced with the words "Russian Dream.""
Protesters gathered in Tbilisi on September 9 after supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party attacked demonstrators the previous day over a government decision to halt European Union membership talks. Supporters pelted protesters with bottles and rocks on September 8 in front of Mayor Kakha Kaladze's campaign headquarters; Kaladze is running for reelection on October 4. Georgia has been in turmoil since October 2024 parliamentary elections that gave Georgian Dream 54 percent amid opposition and Western claims of violations and Russian influence. Opposition activists have held daily demonstrations and tensions rose after at least 10 people, including journalists, were reportedly injured. Authorities launched a criminal investigation into campaign poster damage; police said officers defused the situation, while demonstrators complained police failed to act. During the September 9 rally yogurt was poured on an election banner and an inscription was reportedly replaced with the words "Russian Dream."
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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