Opposition protests in Georgia in early October led to riots. Experts believe that the government set a trap for the opposition to believe that it can overthrow the government through violence. A reason for repression?
The Georgian Interior Ministry announced that it had detained 13 people who participated in the unrest on the day of the local elections on October 4, 2025. The five organizers of the protest in Tbilisi, who are accused of calling for the overthrow of the government, were also detained. The ruling “Georgian Dream“ and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze are talking about a “coup attempt“. At the same time, civil society fears are growing that dissenters are at risk of persecution.
The authorities claim that there is a connection between the latest unrest and the demonstrators who have been protesting daily in front of the Georgian parliament for almost a year. They also accuse the European Union of supporting a coup attempt. From the protesters' point of view, however, the events of October 4 are being used only as a pretext for repression.
Clashes, attempted assault, tear gas
On election day, clashes broke out between protesters and police in front of the Orbeliani Palace in Tbilisi. A relatively small number of protesters broke down a fence and tried to storm the presidential palace, while the police used water cannons and tear gas. There were also injuries.
Initially, the opposition called for a boycott of the local elections, which it said were rigged. It also challenges the legitimacy of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The Lelo and For Georgia parties of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, however, opposed the boycott and ran in the elections. But they also supported the protest. When tensions escalated and calls were heard to storm the presidential palace, most participants withdrew or continued their peaceful protest.
Provocation or desperate attempt by the opposition?
Georgian political scientist Tornike Sharashenidze believes that the attempted storming of the palace is an act of desperation on the part of the opposition. “On October 4, those opposition forces who believed that the government could only be overthrown by violence sensed their chance. But they failed," he told DW.
According to political observer Gela Vasadze, however, the attempted assault was a provocation. "I personally know almost all the organizers of the protests. I do not believe that they themselves were provocateurs. Someone deceived and instrumentalized them. This was clearly intended to confirm the authorities' narrative that the opposition was preparing a coup," he told DW.
Social networks are also actively discussing whether the escalation was somehow orchestrated by the authorities, who are using it to discredit the opposition. According to political scientist Vasadze, many of the demonstrators feel used: "We are witnessing the complete political collapse of the opposition. It turns out that it is completely incapable of responding to the challenges“, commented Vasadze.
The authorities will take advantage of what happened
The participants in the unrest will be brought to justice. This year, the Georgian authorities tightened the legislation and detained a number of opposition figures. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has already announced that “extremist groups“ had financed “parties, media and non-governmental organizations“. And these groups consisted of people who have been protesting in Tbilisi for almost a year. “We do not feel sympathy for these people”, emphasized Kobakhidze. Representatives of the authorities said that the authorities would no longer tolerate the blocking of roads during the protests. Information is already spreading on social networks that representatives of the protesters have become victims of repression and violence. Political observer Gela Vazadze believes that the authorities will use the situation to take action against opposition parties.
Does Kobakhidze want to ban the entire opposition?
The political observer recalls that until recently, a commission was operating in parliament investigating alleged violations during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili. Eight opposition politicians were arrested because they refused to participate in its meetings. In September, the conclusions of the commission's work were published, and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that he would declare the former president's "United National Movement" party unconstitutional. Its "satellite parties" would also be banned.
According to Vasadze, the government wants to ban all opposition forces. He emphasizes: “The authorities view all opposition parties as satellites of the “United National Movement“ - even those that participated in the local elections. Even before October 4, they were saying that the opposition was planning a coup. Now they have an argument“.