Protesters Clash With Special Forces on Sham Local Election Day

10/6/2025

By: Daniel Miller

The protests around Saturday’s local and mayoral elections marked an unfortunate turning point for the pro-democracy movement. Voter turnout was an abysmal 40.93 percent, with the illegitimate Georgian Dream party garnering less than 82 percent, meaning that less than a third of the population cast their votes for them. Even that number seems high, since the OSCE’s invitation to monitor the polling booths came far too late for them to properly verify the election’s integrity, and also because there were many allegations of people voting multiple times, such as when a local reporter confronted those who were caught doing so. It only took the Central Election Commission (CEC) an hour and a half to tabulate the results, which seemed to dismiss the 25 complaints of various rules violations.

It was reported that over 100,000 protesters from across the country took to the streets of Tbilisi, which would make it the largest protest since when I was there on the night of November 30, 2024. Calls of a revolution were circulating in the lead-up to October 4th. While thousands gathered in front of Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue, hundreds more rallied across the river in front of the Presidential Palace and managed to break through the gates and tear down much of the fence to no avail. Numerous contemporary reports claimed that the protesters appeared apprehensive and confused once they reached that point, and instead of attempting to occupy the Palace, most kept their distance while an unlucky few decided to fight against the authorities. Approximately 36 officers reported injuries, while many more were arrested and subsequently beaten beyond recognition.

This was also the case around Parliament and the side streets, as masked protesters shot fireworks at the police and special forces, both of which were deemed illegal at the beginning of the year. The main organizers of the protest – Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze – were arrested that night and charged with attempting to overthrow the government. Prime Minister Irakli Khobakhidze stated that “Lots of people should wait for the punishment” and threatened to arrest any protesters blocking Rustaveli Avenue from now on. He also vowed to eliminate the “collective UNM (United National Movement) disease, meaning relevant parties, foreign agents, the university captured by Saakashvili’s family (the University of Georgia), organizations, and Pari and Ertoba (activist groups).”

Despite these threats, the resiliency of the Georgian people continued on Sunday night in front of Parliament without incident. However, the illegitimate government will no doubt target and arrest even more dissenters who demand free and fair elections and the release of all 70-plus political prisoners.

Droa party leader and political prisoner Elene Khoshtaria wrote a letter from the Rustavi Women’s Prison in response to the events on Saturday:

"What took place was a non-election.

At another critical moment, the Georgian people showed everyone where the truth is and where the lies are, where the streets of Tbilisi are full and where the so-called polling stations are empty. Kaladze has also been added to the list of the illegitimates.

Solidarity with the new political prisoners!

The discreditation of the protest by the criminal gang will not work.

As for the protest and the continuation of the cause. When a difficult moment comes, or when we are dissatisfied or angry and look for the guilty as we fall into despair, we learn lessons and continue the struggle. Despair weakens us.

The protest is not led by any individual person or party, the protest is public.

However, politicians have a responsibility and function - what should we do:

1. Support and protect citizens and activists

2. Non-cooperation with the regime

3. Working on the foreign front

4. Creating a political alternative

In this type of struggle, it is wrong to say “either today or never”, it is correct to say “both today and tomorrow... until the end!”

With perseverance and consistency, results are achieved and will eventually be accomplished.

Let's look ahead, take care of each other!

Our perseverance is not in walking from success to failure, but in getting up after stumbling and continuing the fight!

Until the end!"