Georgia's prime minister says protesters want to topple his government and vows a further crackdown

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday accused the opposition of trying to topple his government and vowed a further crackdown on dissent, hours after the ruling party claimed a landslide win in local elections snubbed by its main rivals.

Tens of thousands marched in the Georgian capital Tbilisi on polling day against the government’s repressive policies, and what they see as Georgia’s steady drift into Moscow’s orbit.

Kobakhidze’s Georgian Dream party late on Saturday claimed victory in every municipality across the South Caucasus country in local elections boycotted by the two main opposition blocs as a sham.

Protests and political unrest have rocked Georgia since Georgian Dream halted talks on joining the European Union last November, despite it being a cherished goal for many Georgians that has been enshrined in the country’s constitution. The move triggered waves of protests that have been met with mass arrests and police violence. It came after the longtime ruling party declared victory in a parliamentary election the opposition said was rigged.

The rallies, big and small, have continued despite a multipronged crackdown by the government through laws that target demonstrators, rights groups, nongovernmental organizations and independent media. Critics say some have been modeled on legislation passed in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has harshly stifled criticism.

Riot police used water cannons and tear gas on Saturday to drive protesters out of the presidential palace, after they smashed the gates and attempted to enter the building.

The opposition had painted the latest march as part of a “peaceful revolution” to restore democratic values, but in a press briefing on Sunday, Kobakhidze cast it as the culmination of months of attempts to overthrow his government.

Georgian officials have repeatedly sought to present the protests as coordinated and funded from abroad, often citing statements from European officials in support of the movement.

Kobakhidze referenced this rhetoric on Sunday, as he pledged to “completely neutralize foreign agents." He also implied that EU officials and diplomats have meddled in Georgian politics by voicing backing for the protests. But he said Georgian Dream was ready for dialogue with Tbilisi's Western partners.

“I am ready to forget everything, to reset relations, to start from a clean slate. … We are ready for friendship and relations with everyone,” he said.

In an online statement on Sunday, the EU’s diplomatic service said the bloc “firmly rejects and condemns the disinformation against the EU’s role in Georgia.”

Five activists, including celebrated opera singer Paata Burchuladze, were detained following Saturday’s rally. According to Georgia’s Interior Ministry, they were accused of calling for the violent overthrow of the government as well as “organizing, leading and participating in group violence.” The interior ministry also vowed to find all those who tried to force entry into the presidential palace.

Georgians went to the polls on Saturday to elect the mayors of five major cities, including Tbilisi, the heads of over 50 other municipalities, and members of municipal councils. Georgia’s two main opposition blocs and several other parties critical of Georgian Dream boycotted the vote.

The statement released Sunday by the EU’s diplomatic service said Georgian Dream’s repressive policies had “drastically reduced the possibility of having competitive elections.” It was signed by the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.

“We call for the release of all those arbitrarily detained. We urge calm and restraint in the post-election period and call on the authorities to uphold citizens’ rights to freedom of assembly and expression. A constructive and inclusive dialogue involving all political actors and civil society is essential, and we call on every side to refrain from violence,” the statement said.

More than 50 international and local groups were registered to observe the municipal vote. But none of the major international watchdogs that monitored the previous local vote in 2021 — including delegations from the European Parliament, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and major U.S. nonprofits — were present this time.

This story corrects the number of parties participating in the election and cities where mayors were elected.

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)

A demonstrator stands behind a burning barricade not far from a police line during an opposition rally in the city center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, boycotting the municipal elections and calling 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)

Paata Burchuladze, opera singer and one of the organizers of the rally, center left, and former Chief Prosecutor of Georgia Murtaz Zodelavaother, center, march with other opposition supporters carrying Georgian national flags 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 demonstrator with a Georgian national, EU and other flags walks in front of 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)

PARIS (AP) — The injuries are piling up so much for Paris Saint-Germain that coach Luis Enrique is questioning his management of the squad.

PSG's home defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday was compounded by injuries to three major players: Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé (calf tear), right back Achraf Hakimi (sprained ankle) and left back Nuno Mendes (sprained knee).

They were arguably PSG’s three best players last season and they all face weeks out, as does rising star Désiré Doué (thigh tear). Nine PSG players have been injured since August and some — like Dembélé and Doué — have been injured twice.

“It is something I should handle much better, given all of my experience,” Luis Enrique said after the Bayern game.

But Champions League holder PSG appears to be paying the price for an exhausting last season, which stretched until the Club World Cup final in mid-July and saw some players appear in more than 60 games. PSG's high-octane style and incessant closing down of opponents also demands a lot.

Defending Ligue 1 champion PSG leads second-placed Marseille and Lens by two points heading into this weekend's games.

PSG's depleted defense could face a tough time at Lyon, which is in sixth place and is strong at home. A victory for Lyon on Sunday would move it to within one point of PSG and open up the title race even more.

There could be a shakeup in the top five with Lens traveling to play Monaco on Saturday and injury-hit Marseille hosting Brest.

Should Marseille's defense find itself in trouble, it can count on goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

His penalty save against Atalanta on Wednesday was the fourth he has stopped in the 10 faced since joining Marseille, taking his career tally to 11 out 42 saved.

According to Opta statistics, Rulli's 40% save ratio from spot kicks is the second highest in Europe's top five domestic leagues over the same time span, behind Napoli's Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

United States forward Folarin Balogun is hitting form for Monaco. He scored his first Champions League goal on Wednesday, one week after netting in Ligue 1.

With PSG's attack decimated, Portugal striker Gonçalo Ramos could get a run of games.

He scored a header in the final seconds of the game against Nice last weekend to give PSG a 1-0 win. He has 38 goals in 101 games for PSG, many of those as a substitute.

Paul Pogba still has not played for Monaco and the former France star's comeback was delayed by a twisted ankle in training last week.

Marseille has several players missing, including U.S. winger Tim Weah (thigh), forward Amine Gouiri (shoulder operation), midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia (calf) and central defenders Leonardo Balerdi (calf) and Facundo Medina (ankle).

Toulouse player Aron Dønnum is set to appear before the French league disciplinary committee after being accused by Le Havre coach Didier Digard of making a racist gesture toward one of his players.

Following a 0-0 draw between the teams last Sunday, Digard said he thought Dønnum made a racist gesture with his hand toward Le Havre midfielder Simon Ebonog, who is Black, after the two players argued with each other.

Dønnum said his gesture, whereby he waved his hand in front of his face after Ebonog leaned toward him following a challenge, had “nothing to do with racism."

Toulouse issued a statement, saying it condemned “unfounded and particularly serious accusations.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

PSG's Achraf Hakimi sits on the ground injured during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris, France, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

PSG's Nuno Mendes, from left, Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos react during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris, France, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

PSG's Achraf Hakimi leaves the field injured during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris, France, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique reacts after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris, France, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)