Violence broke out in Georgia's capital Tbilisi on Sunday, the fourth day of mass protests that began after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze suspended European Union accession negotiations.
Dozens of people have been hospitalized, and Kobakhidze has threatened mass arrests if the protesters do not disperse.
Georgians have long wanted to join the EU. Naturally, this issue became more urgent after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. alarming The population of a former Soviet satellite state that was already invaded by Russia in 2008. Roughly one-fifth of Georgian territory is still occupied by Russian forces after more than 15 years.
Georgia submitted its application to join the EU in March 2022, one month after the invasion of Ukraine began. According to opinion polls, about 80 percent of Georgia's population supported the application. Unfortunately for them, the pro-Russian ruling party Georgian Dream (GD) and its billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili were among the 20% who did not want to be part of Europe.
Georgian Dream is established In 2012, by Ivanishvili, the richest and most influential person in Georgia. Much of his wealth was acquired through business in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. While most Georgians aspired to join the West, Ivanishvili denounced Western influence and called for closer ties with Moscow.
GD tightened its grip on power in October parliamentary elections condemned It was considered a fraud by the rebels and by many foreign observers. Outgoing President Salome Zurabichvili condemned He said the election was a “constitutional coup” and that the “illegitimate” GD government had “declared war on its own people”.
The sluggishness is threatening He plans to remain in office after his term ends in December, holding his seat until a “new legitimate president” is elected.
“The people are not going to accept that the Georgian Dream is trying to return Georgia to Russia,” she said last week.
The European Parliament agreed with these criticisms of Georgia's elections and last week passed a non-binding resolution rejecting the election results, calling for new elections within a year, and calling for sanctions against Prime Minister Kobakhidze and his top officials.
Protests have been ongoing since the disputed elections, but exploded in scale and intensity on Thursday when the European Parliament condemned Georgia's elections and the GD government responded: freeze EU accession negotiations will continue until 2028.
GD said Europe's condemnation of the October election is the latest in a “parade of insults”, accusing the EU of using membership as a means of “blackmail” and accusing the EU of trying to “organize a revolution” in Georgia He claimed that there was.
“We have decided not to put the issue of starting negotiations with the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028. We also reject any budgetary subsidies from the European Union until the end of 2028,” the GD statement said.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Tbilisi, waving Georgian and European flags, after EU accession negotiations were suspended. Police responded with water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas. Opposition leaders accused police of using brutal force against demonstrators from the first night.
Sunday was the fourth night of ongoing demonstrations. Some demonstrators are now wearing gas masks and firing fireworks at police. Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs said Overnight clashes left 27 protesters, 16 police officers and one journalist injured.
Georgian media reported protests erupting in at least eight cities and towns, including the Black Sea port city of Poti. In the city of Khashli, protesters threw eggs at Georgian Dream's local office and tore down the party flag.
The US State Department on Saturday condemned Both the cancellation of European Union negotiations and the violent crackdown on protesters.
“The Georgian people overwhelmingly support integration with Europe. The United States condemns the excessive use of force by police against Georgians attempting to exercise their rights to assembly and expression, including the freedom to peacefully protest.” ,” the State Department said.
“The various anti-democratic actions of the Georgian Dream are based on the shared values and commitments of the United States and Georgia to democracy, the rule of law, civil society, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and anti-democracy. “This violates the core tenets of our strategic partnership. As a result, the United States has suspended this mechanism.”
Kobakuhize warned “Strict laws will apply to any violation of the law,” he said on Sunday.
“Politicians who hide in their offices and victimize members of violent groups and give them harsh punishments cannot escape responsibility,” he added ominously.
Kobakhidze dismissed the State Department's comments and accused US President Joe Biden's administration of causing problems and making life difficult for President-elect Donald Trump.
“You can see that the outgoing administration is trying to leave as difficult a legacy as possible to the new one. They did this with Ukraine and now they are doing the same with Georgia,” he said.
“There is no fundamental meaning in this. We will wait for the new government to take office and discuss everything with them,” he added.
At a press conference on Sunday, Kobakhidze said: hinted The protests were a fake revolution instigated by America and Europe to undermine his government. He provided no evidence for this claim.
“Yesterday, despite the most violent and organized violence by violent groups and their foreign leaders, our police force is holding itself to a higher standard than its American and European counterparts, determined to protect the nation from new attempts to violate the constitutional order. It was a success,” he said.
Kaja Kalas, the European Union's new foreign policy chief, said: said The European Union announced on Sunday that it supports the protesters and their “choice for the future of Europe”.
“We condemn the violence against protesters and deplore the ruling party's indications not to pursue Georgia's path to EU membership and the backsliding of democracy in the country. “It will have a significant impact,” she warned.
Russia has not yet publicly commented on the turmoil in Georgia, but former President Dmitry Medvedev, one of President Vladimir Putin's most aggressive spokespeople, has hinted: hinted If the uprising continues, Moscow may take action.
“Georgia is rapidly moving down the path of Ukraine and falling into a dark abyss. Usually such things end in a very bad way,” Medvedev said.
President Zurabichvili on Monday appealed He called for “very clear moral and political support” from Western countries.
“We want the destiny of Europe to return. This is a national revolt,” she said in an interview with France Inter radio.
