Police in Georgia used water cannons and pepper spray on Saturday to push back protesters who tried to storm the presidential palace, as the South Caucasus country held a municipal election boycotted by the main opposition blocs amid a sweeping crackdown on dissent.

Senate Republicans and top GOP donors still plan to attend a major fundraiser at a coastal resort in Georgia this weekend despite the government shutdown, a move that puts an awkward spotlight on the underbelly of political campaigns as federal workers are being furloughed across the country.

Voters in Georgia are grappling with the effects of the government shutdown — and with who in Washington bears the blame.

Between April 2024 and August 2025, at least 76 people have faced criminal prosecution in the protests, with more than 60 imprisoned, according to Transparency International Georgia, an anti-corruption organization. The number of prosecutions is likely higher now, and scores more people have been slapped with steep fines.

The federal government shutdown is the focus of both Republicans and Democrats, with obvious disagreement over who's to blame.