Irakli Kobakhidze urges the EU ambassador to denounce the Tbilisi demonstrations, emphasizing his ‘particular accountability’ for the turmoil.
Published On 5 Oct 2025
Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has accused demonstrators who attempted to breach the presidential residence of seeking to topple the government, while also blaming the European Union for interfering in the nation’s internal affairs.
Speaking on Sunday, Kobakhidze asserted that the protesters intended to “disrupt the constitutional framework” and singled out EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski for allegedly endorsing the unrest. He urged the ambassador to “publicly distance himself and unequivocally condemn the ongoing disturbances in Tbilisi,” according to reports from the Georgian news outlet Interpress.
On Saturday, Georgian riot police deployed pepper spray and water cannons to disperse crowds near the presidential palace in central Tbilisi, detaining five activists amid a large opposition-led rally coinciding with local elections.
Local media reported that clashes resulted in injuries to 21 security officers and six protesters, as confirmed by Georgia’s Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs.
Kobakhidze estimated that approximately 7,000 individuals took part in the demonstration in the capital of this South Caucasus nation, home to 3.7 million people.
“The protesters escalated their actions, initiating an attempted overthrow. This effort was unsuccessful, and subsequently, some participants began to distance themselves from these acts,” Kobakhidze stated. “Accountability will be enforced, including political responsibility.”
The unrest followed the ruling Georgian Dream party’s sweeping victories in all municipal councils, securing 80 percent of the vote amid accusations from critics that the party maintains close ties to Russia. Meanwhile, former AC Milan football star Kakha Kaladze was re-elected as mayor of Tbilisi.
Opposition factions boycotted the elections and mobilized supporters to demand a “peaceful revolution” against the Georgian Dream administration. Thousands gathered in Freedom Square and along Rustaveli Avenue, brandishing Georgian and EU flags as a symbol of defiance. Some protesters obstructed nearby streets, ignited fires, and clashed with riot police.
Despite allegations, senior Georgian Dream officials have consistently denied any Kremlin affiliations. In a recent opinion article for Euronews, Kobakhidze reaffirmed Georgia’s unwavering commitment to European integration.
“Georgia’s trajectory is European, peaceful, and principled. We are fulfilling our responsibilities, steadfast in reforms, dedicated to our commitments, and focused on achieving tangible outcomes,” Kobakhidze emphasized.
Since last October, Georgia has been engulfed in political turmoil following parliamentary elections won by Georgian Dream, which the opposition condemned as fraudulent. At that time, pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili declared, “This was a complete manipulation, a total theft of your votes,” warning that the country was caught in a “Russian special operation.”
Opposition leaders have organized ongoing protests since then, provoking stern government reactions, with frequent police confrontations and numerous arrests.
The Georgian Dream party was established by billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s richest individual. In late 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on Ivanishvili, accusing him of undermining Georgia’s “democratic and Euro-Atlantic future to benefit the Russian Federation,” as stated by then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
