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Georgia's leader, Irakli Kobakhidze, has unveiled a broad suppression on dissent, accusing demonstrators who tried to breach the official residence of aiming to overthrow his government and blaming the EU for interference in the country's internal matters.

The prime minister made these allegations just a day after demonstrators attempted to breach the presidential palace during local elections. Riot police halted their advance by using pepper spray and water jets.

"No one will avoid responsibility. This includes political responsibility," Kobakhidze was quoted as saying.

Officers detained at least five protesters, including two members of the United National Movement and the vocal artist turned activist Paata Burchuladze.

Domestic news outlets reported the ministry of health as stating that twenty-one members of the security forces and 6 demonstrators had been injured in confrontations in the heart of the capital.

Background of the Political Unrest

The South Caucasus country has been in turmoil since Kobakhidze's ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the previous year's general election, which the European-leaning opposition asserts was rigged. From that point, Tbilisi's talks on joining the bloc have been halted.

The premier stated that up to 7,000 people participated in Saturday's protest gathering but their "effort to topple the government" had been thwarted despite what he described as support from the European Union.

"Several people have already been arrested – first and foremost the leaders of the attempted coup," he informed reporters, stating that the country's main opposition force "will no longer be allowed from operating in the nation's political scene."

Protest Movement Appeals and Government Reaction

Opposition figures had urged a "peaceful revolution" against GD, which they allege of being aligned with Moscow and authoritarian. The political group has been in control since 2012.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the heart of the capital, waving national and European flags, after months of targeted operations on free press, limitations on civil society and the detention of dozens of opponents and activists.

The prime minister blamed the European Union's representative to the country, Paweł Herczyński, of interference. "You know that specific people from abroad have even expressed direct support for these actions, for the declared effort to disrupt the legal government," he said, noting that Herczyński "bears special responsibility in this situation."

"The ambassador should come out, distance himself and strongly denounce everything that is occurring on the streets of Tbilisi," said the prime minister.

EU Position and Ongoing Geopolitical Tensions

In July, the European External Action Service rejected what it termed "false information and unfounded claims" about the EU's alleged role in Georgia.

The pro-European factions have been organizing demonstrations since last October, when Georgian Dream secured victory in a national vote that its critics claim was tainted by irregularities. The party has denied allegations of electoral manipulation.

Georgia has the goal of joining the European Union enshrined in its founding document and has long been one of the most pro-western of the Soviet Union's successor states. Its ties with the Western nations have been under pressure since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Georgian Dream is directed by its creator, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the country's richest man and a ex-leader, and rejects it is aligned with Russia. It states it aims to join the EU while maintaining stability with Russia.