Georgia PM announces sweeping crackdown on opposition

GEORGIA'S Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze vowed opposition arrests yesterday after the ruling party won local elections and police used force against protesters who tried to enter the presidential palace.

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The weekend's polls were the ruling populist Georgian Dream party's first electoral test since a disputed parliamentary vote a year ago plunged the Black Sea nation into turmoil and prompted Brussels to effectively freeze the EU-candidate country’s accession bid.

The central election commission said Georgian Dream had secured municipal council majorities in every municipality, and that its candidates scored landslide wins in mayoral races in all cities.

The normally low-key local elections have acquired high stakes after months of raids on independent media, restrictions on civil society and the jailing of dozens of opponents and activists.