In Georgia, large crowds have once again gathered for pro-European demonstrations. The police used water cannons and tear gas. There were reports of injuries and several arrests.
For the second evening in a row, pro-European demonstrators protested in Georgia against the halt to EU accession negotiations announced by the leadership. According to the news portal OC Media, tens of thousands of people gathered in the capital Tbilisi. Other observers confirmed that there were significantly more demonstrators on the streets than on Thursday evening.
The police again gathered strong forces in Tbilisi and tried to forcibly disperse the demonstrators from the main street Rustaveli Prospekt. She used water cannons and tear gas several times. There were injuries and dozens of arrests, eyewitnesses reported. Protesters built improvised barricades and threw fireworks.
Other pro-European rallies were reported in Batumi, Zugdidi and other cities in the South Caucasus republic. According to the media, there were also arrests in Batumi.
In the capital Tbilisi, demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building.
Negotiations with the EU suspended
The protest, which has been flaring up again and again for months, was sparked this time by the fact that the national-conservative government has put negotiations on EU accession until 2028 on hold. Accession to the European Union has constitutional status in the ex-Soviet republic; the vast majority of the population supports it.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, however, sees criticism from Brussels of its increasingly authoritarian course as interference and blackmail. The opposition, in turn, fears that turning away from Europe will give Russia more influence in Georgia.
Criticism from the President and diplomats
Pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili said in a televised address: “It is obvious that no one wants a Russified Georgia, a Georgia deprived of its constitution or a Georgia in the hands of an illegitimate government.” She called for a repeat of the controversial parliamentary election at the end of October. Despite allegations of manipulation, the Georgian Dream party was declared the winner.
More than 100 Georgian diplomats also protested in an open letter against the suspension of EU accession talks. They described the decision as unconstitutional, a diplomat told Reuters. Employees in the defense, education and justice ministries also took a stand against the government's decision.
Multiple arrests the night before
According to the government, dozens of people were arrested in clashes between demonstrators and the police in Tbilisi on Friday night. As a journalist from the AFP news agency reported, the police in the capital beat peacefully protesting participants. They also used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons.
According to the Interior Ministry, 43 people were arrested overnight “for disobeying police orders” and vandalism. 32 police officers were injured by the demonstrators' “illegal and violent actions.”
