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The nation's prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, has announced a broad crackdown on political opposition, accusing demonstrators who attempted to storm the official residence of aiming to overthrow his administration and pointing the finger at the EU for interference in Georgia's internal matters.

The prime minister made these allegations just a day following protesters attempted to breach the presidential palace during municipal polls. Riot police halted their advance by using pepper spray and water cannon.

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

Law enforcement detained at least several demonstrators, including two members of the largest opposition party and the opera singer turned campaigner Paata Burchuladze.

Domestic news outlets reported the ministry of health as stating that 21 members of the security forces and 6 demonstrators had been injured in clashes in the heart of the capital.

Context of the Political Unrest

The South Caucasus country has been in upheaval since the prime minister's governing GD party claimed victory in the previous year's parliamentary election, which the pro-EU opposition claims was stolen. From that point, Georgia's negotiations on joining the European Union have been frozen.

Kobakhidze said that up to seven thousand people participated in the weekend's opposition rally but their "effort to topple the government" had been prevented despite what he called EU backing.

"A number of people have already been arrested – primarily the leaders of the attempted coup," he told reporters, adding that the primary opposition group "will be barred from being active in Georgian politics."

Opposition Appeals and Government Reaction

Opposition figures had urged a "non-violent uprising" against GD, which they allege of being aligned with Moscow and dictatorial. The political group has been in power since 2012.

A large crowd of protesters gathered in the heart of the capital, waving Georgian and EU flags, after an extended period of targeted operations on free press, restrictions on civil society and the arrest of dozens of opponents and activists.

The prime minister blamed the EU's ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, of interference. "It is known that certain individuals from abroad have even expressed direct support for these actions, for the announced attempt to overthrow the constitutional order," he said, noting that Herczyński "bears special responsibility in this context."

"The ambassador should speak out, distance himself and strongly denounce everything that is occurring on the streets of Tbilisi," stated Kobakhidze.

EU Position and Continuing Geopolitical Strain

In the summer, the European External Action Service rejected what it termed "false information and baseless accusations" about the EU's alleged role in the nation.

The pro-western opposition have been organizing demonstrations since the previous autumn, when Georgian Dream won a parliamentary election that its opponents claim was marred by fraud. The ruling group has rejected allegations of electoral manipulation.

Georgia has the goal of EU accession enshrined in its founding document and has long been among the most pro-western of the Soviet Union's successor states. Its ties with the west have been under pressure since Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in 2022.

GD is controlled by its creator, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the wealthiest individual and a former prime minister, and denies it is pro-Moscow. It states it aims to enter the European Union while maintaining peace with Moscow.