After the Prime Minister of Georgia announced that the government would suspend talks on the country's membership in the European Union until 2028, citizens took to the streets of several cities to protest. There were clashes with the police in the center of Tbilisi. – The government has declared war on its own people, said Georgian President Salome Zourabishvili.
– Georgia suspends talks with the European Union on membership in this organization until 2028, announced Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. He also announced that the government was waiving EU budget grants until then.
Clashes with the police
On Thursday evening, residents of various cities in Georgia went out to protest against this decision. In Tbilisi, traffic was blocked on Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament. Pepper spray was used in the Georgian capital, policemen threw smoke grenades into the crowd – Echo Kawkaza (a branch of Radio Swoboda) and NewsGeorgia reported. There is also information about those detained.
Pro-Western president Salome Zourabishvili takes part in the demonstration in the center of Tbilisi. The leader, turning to the special forces officers, asked: – Do you serve Georgia? Russia?
Clashes with police during a protest in the center of Tbilisi. Photo from November 28DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/EPA/PAP
She considered the government's decision to be a move towards Russia. “Today, an illegal government declared war on its own people,” she said, calling on the opposition for unity. Before issuing the statement, Zourabishvili met with the diplomatic corps and opposition leaders.
Ministry of the Interior in turn, it reported that one policeman was taken to hospital as a result of injuries sustained during the operation. Georgians also took to the streets of other cities, including Kutaisi, Batumi and Zugdidi.
Georgia, Tbilisi. Protest on November 28, 2024DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/EPA
“We expected Yanukovych, and this is 100 times worse than Yanukovych”
The Georgian opposition is also criticizing the government's decision. – We expected Yanukovych, and this is 100 times worse than Yanukovych. The Georgian junta under Kobakhidze openly and unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the EU and NATO – said one of the leaders of the Georgian opposition, Nika Gvaramia. Viktor Yanukovych he is a former pro-Russian president Ukrainewho was removed from power as a result of the Revolution of Dignity in 2014.
Another Georgian oppositionist, Mamuka Khazaradze, said that “Russian power in Georgia has closed all doors to development, isolated the country and blocked the path to Europe.” He emphasized that European integration is the choice of the Georgian people, which is enshrined in the constitution.
Protest in Tbilisi due to the government's suspension of talks on membership in the European UnionPAP/EPA/DAVID MDZINARISHVILI
“A Russian nightmare called the Georgian Dream”
Tinatin Bokuchava, who heads the United National Movement, wrote on social media that “the 'Russian nightmare' called the Georgian Dream knew that after a very harsh resolution of the European Parliament, a European Union mission would arrive and prove that a Russian special operation was carried out on October 26 against the Georgian nation.”
“That's why they made this decision and interrupted the process of joining the EU. What do we do? Either we fight or we surrender to Russia – the choice is ours,” she added.
Main photo source: DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/EPA/PAP