They formed a human chain along the river, some draped in Georgian and European Union flags.
Thousands of pro-European protesters gathered this Saturday in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, to protest against the Government, on the eve of the inauguration of the country’s new President, whose appointment is being contested by the opposition.
Protesters formed a human chain along the river in central Tbilisi, some draped in Georgian and European Union (EU) flags. Others wore a banner calling for the “release of political prisoners”, according to Agence France-Press (AFP).
Protesters demand the release of citizens detained during previous demonstrations and the holding of new legislative elections.
“Everyone must understand that the protests will not stop until all demands are met,” Teimouraz Tsiklauri, a 23-year-old international relations student, told AFP.
Georgia has been going through a serious political crisis since the legislative elections held on October 26, whose victory was attributed to the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The electoral process was the target of several accusations of fraud by the opposition, the President, Salome Zurabishvili, who is pro-European, and international observers.
The opposition accused the current prime minister and leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobajzide, of having orchestrated electoral fraud in collaboration with Russia, something he vehemently denied.
The party in power since 2012 decided at the end of November to postpone negotiations on joining the European Union (EU) until 2028, an objective enshrined in the Constitution of the former Soviet republic.
The decision led to pro-European demonstrations over several weeks, some of which were marked by clashes with police.
The country is preparing for the inauguration, on Sunday, of new President Mikheïl Kavelachvili, from the ruling party, known for its ultra-conservative and anti-Western stance.
Although presidential powers are limited in Georgia, the investiture will likely trigger a new mobilization of pro-European parties, and since Salome Zurabishvili has already announced that she refuses to leave office without calling new legislative elections.
The inauguration of the new president “will not have any meaning”, Natia, 27, with a degree in political science, told AFP.
“Kavelashvili will never be president of Georgia. Just like the Georgian Dream, it will never be the country’s governing force, because it is not a legitimate government,” he stated.
