More than a hundred people were arrested in Georgia, on the second day of demonstrations triggered by the government’s decision to postpone discussions on membership of the European Union, in the midst of a post-electoral crisis, the authorities announced on Saturday November 30.
This former Soviet republic in the Caucasus has been in turmoil since the legislative elections of October 26, won by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift. This election is denounced as being tainted with irregularities by the pro-European opposition which is boycotting the new Parliament.
Nighttime demonstrations brought together several thousand people on the evening of Thursday November 28 and Friday November 29 in Tbilisi, to protest against the authorities’ decision to postpone the country’s EU membership discussions until 2028. These two gatherings were dispersed by force by the police.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, 107 people were arrested on Friday for “disobedience to the police” et « vandalism », and 10 police officers were injured. The day before, 43 demonstrators were arrested and 32 police officers injured, according to the same source.
Calls for a new gathering on Saturday evening, November 30, are circulating on social networks.
Large mobilisation
Protests also took place in several other cities in Georgia. At least eight protesters were arrested in Georgia’s second city, Batumi, according to local media.
“I express my gratitude to the Minister of the Interior and all the police officers who yesterday defended the constitutional order of Georgia and safeguarded the sovereignty and independence of the nation”declared Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during a press conference on Saturday. The Georgian investigative service, however, announced that it had opened an investigation into “allegations of abuse of authority through violence by law enforcement against demonstrators and media representatives”. Independent TV channel Pirveli said one of its journalists was hospitalized with serious injuries after being beaten with her cameraman by police.
The movement also began to spread beyond the streets. Hundreds of officials, including from the foreign affairs, defense and education ministries, as well as judges issued joint statements in protest. Some 160 Georgian diplomats criticized the government’s decision to postpone the European integration process, saying it was unconstitutional and led to “in international isolation” of the country. More than a hundred schools and universities suspended their activities in protest.
Despite its decision, the government says it wants to continue reforms and still intends to join the European Union in 2030. The Prime Minister denounced a ” blackmail “ from Brussels, while the European Parliament called for new legislative elections.
Getting back on the European path
Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili, at odds with the government but who only has limited powers, supported the demonstrators and participated in Thursday’s rally. She estimated Friday evening that “the resistance movement has begun”. “We will remain united until Georgia achieves its goals: returning to the European path and obtaining new elections”declared this former French diplomat who refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the Parliament resulting from the October legislative elections.
France called on Friday to “respect for the right to peaceful protest” and underlined “support European aspirations” from Georgia, “who must not be betrayed”. The Council of Europe has condemned the “brutal repression of demonstrations”expressing alarm at the government’s decision to suspend its negotiations with the EU. Amnesty International has denounced a desire to “remove all dissent”.
Ukraine, which itself experienced a pro-European revolution in 2014 after the authorities at the time attempted to suspend rapprochement with the EU, denounced a “use of force” and one “limiting democratic processes” operated “to please Moscow”.
