Violent riots in the night: police violently break up demo!

By André Ballin

Tbilisi (Georgia) - Extremely tense situation in the South Caucasus Republic of Georgia ! For the third night in a row, violent clashes have broken out between demonstrators and the police.

Demonstrators shot firecrackers at the police.
Demonstrators shot firecrackers at the police.  © Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP/dpa

According to local media reports, the officers in Tbilisi also used water cannons and tear gas, while the protesters fired fireworks at the riot police.

It was not until Sunday morning that the uniformed officers succeeded in pushing the rioters away from the parliament building on Rustaveli Prospekt.

The crowd has now set up roadblocks near the State University. The clashes between the national-conservative government and the pro-European opposition are threatening to tear Georgia apart.

So far there is no official information on the number of injured and arrested. Last night, the police reportedly arrested 107 people for hooliganism in the capital Tbilisi alone - demonstrations are also taking place in other cities.

The streets were very smoky as a result of the attacks.
The streets were very smoky as a result of the attacks.  © Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP/dpa

The background to the protests are the parliamentary elections at the end of October, which were overshadowed by allegations of fraud and in which the ruling "Georgian Dream" party declared itself the winner. The opposition has not recognized the election results - and refuses to accept their mandates.