Thousands took to the streets of Geneva ahead of the summit at a nearby French resort town
Riot police in Geneva clashed with protesters on Sunday ahead of a Group of Seven summit in neighboring France. The violence disrupted a No-G7 demonstration which drew thousands.
Geneva lies around 30 km from Evian-les-Bains, a French resort town on the shores of Lake Geneva where the 2026 G7 summit is scheduled to take place Monday to Wednesday. The Swiss authorities closed 25 of the 35 border crossings with France from Thursday afternoon, citing security concerns.
Around 60 organizations representing a range of causes, including feminist groups, trade unions, and supporters of Palestinian and Kurdish statehood, took part in the Geneva march. Organizers said around 20,000 people attended; police estimated the crowd at 7,000 at the start of the demonstration.
Police used water cannons and tear gas against rioters, who hurled projectiles at the officers.
Footage from the scene also shows the windows of a bank being smashed during the unrest.
A Tesla car was burned out after catching fire amid the turmoil, although it was not clear whether the vehicle was deliberately targeted.
American entrepreneur Elon Musk, the co-owner and CEO of Tesla, became the world’s first trillionaire last week after his other company, SpaceX, raised $75 billion in an IPO.
Apart from the clashes, the five-kilometer march along the shores of Lake Geneva, which passed near the United Nations quarter, was described by the media as loud and colorful but largely contained. Demonstrators chanted slogans against fascism, imperialism, and capitalism. One banner depicted US President Donald Trump as a dinosaur devouring the Earth.
The G7 was formed in 1973 as a club of the world’s largest economies, but its influence has declined as non-Western powers, especially China, gain greater weight in the global economy. Critics argue that the format is outdated and far less relevant than the more inclusive G20.
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Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is reportedly expected to attend the meeting in Evian to seek additional funding for Kiev’s drone war against Russia. Politico reports that Ukraine hopes to raise up to $20 billion from NATO countries.
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