Description: Police forces clashed with protesters in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, amid the crumbling of the local elections which were widely boycotted by the opposition parties. The ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in almost every voting station of the 3.7 million Caucasus nation which has been engulfed in a political crisis for over a year. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, claimed that EU – sponsored coup attempt has been avoided, and many people were imprisoned on treason charges since they directly attempted at toppling the elected government. The country has been experiencing a protracted political crisis since last year’s election that the pro – EU opposition parties claim it was staged. The Georgian Ministry of Health reported that 21 police officers were severely injured while 6 protesters were also hospitalized with difficult health situations. Georgian Dream has blocked the EU accession talks and blamed the oppositional parties of what they called blackmail and manipulation.
Impact: Anti – government protests in Georgia have remained a daily occurrence with oscillating periods of escalation, since the Georgian Dream party was elected to remain in power last year. The party has increased its crackdown on dissent, censured media outlets and limited civil rights liberties ever since its victory was heavily disputed by the oppositional bloc of parties. The escalation of the protests in the midst of the local elections indicates widespread public disapproval and potential further violent aggravation of the civil unrest. Georgian Dream has flirted with the idea of reorienting its political charter regarding EU accession and has continuously blamed the Union for the stalled negotiations and accession talks. The dire state of civil liberties and the disputed legitimacy of Georgian Dream would potentially incite continuation of the protests in the upcoming period.