Kathmandu. A major demonstration took place in Geneva on Sunday in opposition to the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit scheduled for Wednesday in the French city of Évian. The protest was led by the “No G7 Alliance,” a coalition of various groups and organizations united to resist what they termed ‘fascism and imperialism.’ Protesters gathered in a park by Lake Geneva and marched gradually through a predetermined city route. A white boat floating on the lake bore the slogan “No G7,” while demonstrators carried an array of placards bearing slogans such as “Reject the G7.”
While the protest initially remained largely peaceful and organized, the situation later deteriorated with reports of explosions and visible black smoke. A Tesla vehicle was set on fire during the unrest. Geneva’s cantonal police disclosed that they had confiscated items including knives, manacles, gas canisters, and fireworks near the demonstration site. Authorities also reported disruptions to Geneva’s public transport services; trolleybus operations were suspended in the afternoon, and tram networks along with several bus routes underwent service modifications.
The French government convened the G7 summit to discuss the current unstable international environment. Leaders from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the European Union are participating in the meeting. When the inaugural G7 summit was held in 2003 in Évian, a French city less than 50 kilometers from Geneva, the Swiss city witnessed significant riots. In preparation for this year’s summit, Swiss authorities have deployed approximately 4,000 troops and announced the closure of most of the 35 border crossings with France.
