Local elections in Georgia are taking place amid mass protests. In the capital, protesters gathered at their traditional location – the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue. Students also organized a protest march from Tbilisi State University's first building toward Freedom Square. Participants held signs reading, "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty!"

The situation escalated in the evening, when protesters broke down the gates of the presidential palace in Tbilisi. A clash between demonstrators and security forces erupted at the scene. Local media reports indicate that riot police are dispersing the protesters using water cannons and tear gas.

Earlier, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement that the ongoing rally "exceeded the limits established by the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations."

"The organizers damaged the fences of the presidential palace on Atoneli Street and attempted to break in. The Ministry of Internal Affairs once again calls on all protesters to obey lawful police orders and not allow the situation to be artificially escalated. Otherwise, law enforcement officers will take appropriate measures as provided by law," the statement read.

Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, described the events at the presidential residence as a government-orchestrated stunt.

"This parody of a presidential palace seizure could only be staged by the regime to discredit the 310 days of peaceful protests by the Georgian people. As the legitimate president, I officially reject this and will continue to stand peacefully with my people until we win new elections," she wrote on the social media platform X.