SHOTLIST: TBILISI, GEORGIA (OCT. 4, 2025) (ANADOLU – ACCESS ALL) 1. CROWD OF PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS AS OPERA SINGER AND OPPOSITION FIGURE PAATA BURCHULADAZE ARRIVES AT PROTEST 2. VARIOUS OF PAATA BURCHULADAZE DELIVERING SPEECH DURING PROTEST / PROTESTERS WAVING FLAGS AND CHANTING SLOGANS 3. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS FORCING WAY INTO YARD OF ORBELIANI PALACE 4. VARIOUS OF POLICE LINED UP AROUND ORBELIANI PALACE / CROWD OF PROTESTERS 5. POLICE USING WATER CANNONS AGAINST PROTESTERSTBILISI, GEORGIA - OCT. 4: Thousands of protesters gathered in Tbilisi’s Independence Square on Saturday, Oct. 4, following a call by opposition parties to boycott Georgia’s local elections. Chanting anti-government slogans, demonstrators called for transparent electoral process greater political accountability. The protest comes amid growing political tensions, as opposition groups reject the vote’s legitimacy and call for democratic reforms in line with EU membership standards. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023, setting out political and legal conditions for further integration steps. Brussels has repeatedly emphasized that progress on human rights and democratic reforms will be key to advancing the accession process. Twelve parties are competing, with nine candidates running for Tbilisi mayor. The ruling party nominated incumbent Kakha Kaladze, while the main opposition groups – Strong Georgia – Lelo and Gakharia for Georgia – backed former lawmaker Irakli Kupradze. Over 3.5 million citizens were registered to vote at 3,061 polling stations nationwide, most of which are using electronic ballot boxes.