Protesters do not agree with the suspension of accession negotiations with the EU.
Georgian police detained 107 people during Friday’s demonstration in the capital, Tbilisi. The protesters do not agree with the suspension of accession negotiations with the European Union, reports TASR according to the DPA agency.
The protests in front of the Georgian parliament building “repeatedly exceeded the norms set by law for assemblies,” according to a statement by the Ministry of the Interior.
They threw stones at the police, built barricades and set buildings on fire
According to the ministry, the demonstrators threw stones at the police, built barricades and set fire to buildings. These were reportedly the largest protests in recent weeks following the controversial victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party in October’s parliamentary elections.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Tbilisi on Friday evening for the second day, and other protests took place in other parts of the country. The police announced that about ten police officers were injured during the clashes, one of whom is hospitalized. The authorities did not provide any information on the number of injured demonstrators, the police used water cannons and tear gas against them.
The backlash against allegedly falsified results gained new momentum after the government suspended accession talks with the EU on Thursday. According to surveys, the majority of residents are in favor of joining the EU, which is also a goal enshrined in the constitution, writes DPA.
After sharp criticism – also from Brussels – of the election process and the government’s increasingly authoritarian course, Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze announced that accession talks with the EU will be suspended until 2028.
Georgian Dream sees criticism of Brussels as interference in national affairs and blackmail, while the opposition fears that by turning away from Europe, Russia will once again gain more influence in Georgia.
