Thousands of protesters gathered again this Saturday in Tbilisi’s Freedom Square. The US announced the suspension of the Strategic Partnership with Georgia. The president does not recognize the election results and says she will not leave office
Mass protests against the pro-Russian government broke out this Saturday in Georgia’s main cities, despite police attempts to disperse the protesters. The protests were triggered by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s decision to postpone Georgia’s membership of the European Union until 2028.
Police reportedly used pepper spray and water cannons in Tbilisi on Friday, where the Interior Minister announced. But the protests have already spread to Batumi, Zugdidi, Kutaisi, Telavi, Gurjaani and other cities in Georgia. Thousands of protesters gathered again this Saturday in Tbilisi’s Freedom Square on Rustaveli Avenue, completely blocking the street. Protesters began to erect barricades and set off fireworks at Parliament, causing a fire. Police reportedly threw smoke bombs at protesters.
In response to the decision by the ruling Georgian Dream party to suspend EU membership talks, the US State Department announced the suspension of the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership. “The Georgian Dream’s many antidemocratic actions have violated the fundamental principles of our U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership. As a result, the United States suspended this mechanism”, reads the statement. The US State Department also condemned the “excessive force” used against the protesters.
Protesters at the Georgian parliament (EPA)
Meanwhile, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili called the country’s government illegitimate and said she would not step down when her term ends next month, defying the prime minister who accused pro-EU opposition forces of planning a revolution. Zourabichvili stated that parliament does not have the right to elect her successor when her term ends in December, and that she will remain in office.
Zourabichvili and other government critics claim that the October 26 elections, in which Georgian Dream won almost 54% of the votes, were manipulated and that the parliament is illegitimate. Zourabichvili said that the Presidency is the only legitimate institution in the country, saying that the elections were a “sham” and a “special operation by Russia”. “There is no legitimate parliament and, therefore, an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new one. President. Therefore, there can be no inauguration and my mandate continues until a legitimately elected parliament is constituted”, he stated.
For his part, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused opponents of the suspension of EU membership of planning a revolution, similar to the 2014 Maidan protest in Ukraine, which ousted a pro-Russian president. “Some people want this scenario to repeat itself in Georgia. But there will be no Maidan in Georgia,” Kobakhidze said.
The South Caucasus country was thrown into crisis on Thursday when Georgian Dream party Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared he would suspend EU accession talks for the next four years, abruptly reversing a long-held national goal. . Georgia aims to join the EU in its Constitution.
Kobakhidze’s ruling Georgian Dream party has been accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian, opting for better relations with Russia over the EU. On Friday, Ukraine accused Georgia of suspending its candidacy for the European Union to “please Moscow”, with Kiev’s diplomacy expressing disappointment with the former Soviet republic’s decision, in the wake of the contested October 26 elections, which gave victory to the party in power, considered pro-Russia.
