TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Police in Georgia used water cannons and pepper spray on Saturday to push back protesters who tried to storm the presidential palace, as the South Caucasus country held a municipal election boycotted by the main opposition blocs amid a sweeping crackdown on dissent.
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A man gets his ballot at a polling station during the municipal elections in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A woman with a girl lines up to get her ballot at a polling station during the municipal elections in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police extinguish a flare thrown at them during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and calling for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national and a U.S. national flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national and EU flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police block a street to prevent demonstrators from advancing during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, as they boycott the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Protesters in gas masks stand in front of police during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police block protesters during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police use a water cannon to block protesters during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Demonstrators with a Georgian and Ukrainian national flags stand behind a burning barricade not far from a police line during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and calling for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A man gets his ballot at a polling station during the municipal elections in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
A woman with a girl lines up to get her ballot at a polling station during the municipal elections in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police extinguish a flare thrown at them during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and calling for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national and a U.S. national flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national and EU flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Opposition supporters with Georgian national flags gather in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police block a street to prevent demonstrators from advancing during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, as they boycott the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Protesters in gas masks stand in front of police during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police block protesters during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Police use a water cannon to block protesters during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and call for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
Demonstrators with a Georgian and Ukrainian national flags stand behind a burning barricade not far from a police line during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and calling for the release of political opponents. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
