Georgian authorities have charged opera singer Paata Burchuladze and four other protest leaders with inciting riots and attempting to overthrow the government. Burchuladze leads the Rustaveli Avenue protest movement and urged supporters to seize power in Tbilisi on Saturday after municipal elections that official results showed were won by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Opposition politician Murtaz Zodelava of the United National Movement backed the call and told demonstrators to capture the presidential palace.
Activists carrying American, European Union, and Ukrainian flags stormed the president's residence hours later, before police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. The Health Ministry reported that six protesters and 21 police officers required hospitalization after the clashes. Interior Ministry officials arrested Burchuladze, Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and retired Col. Lasha Beridze in the early hours of Sunday.
Opposition groups accuse the government of election fraud and undermining democracy after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze suspended European Union membership negotiations last year. Kobakhidze blamed foreign intelligence services for orchestrating the demonstrations and accused EU diplomats of fueling the unrest.
Activists carrying American, European Union, and Ukrainian flags stormed the president's residence hours later, before police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. The Health Ministry reported that six protesters and 21 police officers required hospitalization after the clashes. Interior Ministry officials arrested Burchuladze, Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and retired Col. Lasha Beridze in the early hours of Sunday.
Opposition groups accuse the government of election fraud and undermining democracy after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze suspended European Union membership negotiations last year. Kobakhidze blamed foreign intelligence services for orchestrating the demonstrations and accused EU diplomats of fueling the unrest.
