Police water cannon in Georgia, demonstrators near the Presidential Palace Election news

The opposition protests turned violent, as the riot police deployed tear gas and water cannon near the presidential palace.

Georgian riot police deployed the water cannon, pepper and tear gas spray to disperse the demonstrators who tried to storm the presidential palace in Tbilisi during the municipal elections.

The clashes took place on Saturday after the opposition groups, which boycotted the vote, called for a “peaceful revolution” against the ruling Georgian Dream Party (GD), accusing them of negativity and adopting pro -Russian policies.

Thousands of people gathered in Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue waving the flags of Georgia and the European Union, while the organizers said it was a challenge against GD. Some of the nearby streets later, the fires lit up and clashed with the riot police.

In the evening, a group of demonstrators moved towards the palace and tried to penetrate the fence, according to the witnesses.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs later announced that the assembly is illegal, saying it “exceeded the rules set by the law.” Then the police pushed the demonstrators strongly.

“Today is the result of a deep crisis formed by our government supporting Russian and authoritarianism,” the protester, Davit Mazanadad, told local media. “I think this protest will continue until these demands are answered correctly from our government.”

The ruling GD, which announced that it had won in every municipality throughout the 3.7 million country, rejected charges of voting voting. The party, which was founded by billionaire and former Prime Minister Bedzina Ivanevili, denies that it is a supporter of Moscow. She says she is seeking to membership in the European Union while maintaining stability with Russia.

Georgia, which was one of the most pro -Western states that appeared after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has witnessed its relations with Europe and the United States that has been deteriorating since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The government freezes the joining talks with the European Union after the disputed parliamentary elections last year, which raises distress The most famous demonstrations.

The Saturday’s confrontation was the most dangerous glow after months Previous protests Loss of momentum. The authorities have warned that they would firmly respond to any attempt to what they described as a boost for the “revolution.”