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Violent protests in Tbilisi: government and opposition in a clinch!
There were renewed violent clashes between police and demonstrators in Tbilisi following disputed elections.
Violent protests in Tbilisi: government and opposition in a clinch!
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, has once again descended into chaos! For the third night in a row, there were violent clashes between the police and anti-government demonstrators. Security forces reportedly used water cannons and tear gas, while protesters retaliated with fireworks. The situation escalated on Rustaveli Prospekt, where the police were only able to drive the crowd away from the parliament building in the morning. But the demonstrators did not give up and set up roadblocks near the state university.
Protests and arrests
Tensions between the national-conservative government and the pro-European opposition threaten to tear Georgia apart. Official figures on injuries and arrests are still pending, but police reported 107 arrests for hooliganism in Tbilisi alone. Demonstrations are also taking place in other cities across the country, which is further fueling the unrest.
The background to these explosive protests is the controversial parliamentary elections at the end of October, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party declared itself the winner. The opposition does not recognize the election results and refuses to accept their mandates. The situation was further fueled by Prime Minister Iraqi Kobachidze's announcement that he would put accession negotiations with the EU on hold until 2028. Despite these developments, a survey shows that the majority of the population wants to join the EU, which is even enshrined in the constitution.
The conflict has now reached diplomatic dimensions: several ambassadors have resigned in protest. President Salome Zurabishvili, who is resisting the government's planned change, will remain in office for the time being. She emphasizes that an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a legitimate president. Her term of office ends in mid-December, but the successor should not be chosen directly by the people, but by MPs and regional representatives.