Georgia claims foreign-backed coup attempt as protests erupt

Georgian Mayor Kakha Kaladze has accused foreign governments of attempting a coup in Georgia, following recent protests in the country. The Georgian government has repeatedly claimed that external forces are trying to remove the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has avoided taking a strong stance against Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

Kaladze said that, ahead of the October 4 municipal elections, a “coup campaign” backed by foreign actors had been underway for months, involving “hundreds of millions” in funding through NGOs. He also alleged that certain Western ambassadors were encouraging violence in Georgia.

In response to accusations from US Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen about silencing opposition, Kaladze dismissed them as being influenced by the “Global War Party.” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze echoed similar claims, labeling opposition figures as “foreign agents.”

Opposition protests, which turned violent, erupted after projections showed Georgian Dream leading in the elections. These protests add to a pattern of unrest in Georgia, with earlier demonstrations citing election fraud and delays in EU accession. The EU supported the protests, which Georgian officials argue were funded by foreign powers, likening them to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine.