Violent protests in Georgia over EU integration and elections
Thousands of pro-European demonstrators marched toward the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi last night, marking the tenth consecutive night of protests, AFP reports.
Georgian police once again deployed tear gas and water cannons.
“Solidarity with the regime’s detainees” — Despite brutal crackdowns, beatings, torture, and targeted hunting of protesters, Tbilisi is taking to the streets for the 10th consecutive day. Protesters are demanding the immediate release of all unlawfully detained protesters and the… pic.twitter.com/oodGcCSXJQ
— Katie Shoshiashvili (@KShoshiashvili) December 7, 2024
Meanwhile, Georgia’s President Salome Zurabishvili attended the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday evening. There, she discussed the Georgian elections and the alarming crackdown on demonstrations with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
🤝 @realDonaldTrump 🇺🇸@EmmanuelMacron 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/90U2Tx5Fqb
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) December 7, 2024
The former Soviet republic in the Caucasus has been in turmoil since the October 26 elections, as the ruling Georgian Dream party’s announced victory was contested by the pro-Western opposition, which accused it of fraud.
Protests intensified last week after the government decided to suspend negotiations on European Union integration until 2028. Over nine nights of protests, marked by violence, demonstrators gathered inside and around the Parliament building, where police dispersed most assemblies by force.
Authorities report that 341 protesters have been arrested since the movement began, and nearly 150 police officers have been injured.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
