Tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets again Sunday as mass nationwide protests entered their fourth night.
Georgia has been rocked by unrest since the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party claimed victory in a contested October 26 vote.
Georgian Dream says it made the decision to protect Georgia against outside meddling in its affairs.
Incumbent President Salome Zurabishvili, who has called the Georgian Dream government “illigitimate,” has joined protesters calling for a new vote.
He recently voiced support for Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and his EU decision.
Sunday marked the fourth night of widespread protests across the country, with tens of thousands of Georgians taking to the streets once more. In at least eight cities, protesters set up roadblocks and blocked access to the Black Sea port of Poti, according to national media outlets.
Ever since the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party declared victory in a contentious vote on October 26, Georgia has been racked by turmoil.
Georgia’s opposition is boycotting parliament over the situation, and civil unrest has skyrocketed in recent days after Georgian Dream announced it would halt Georgia’s EU accession bid.
Georgian Dream claims that it chose to shield Georgia from foreign interference in its internal affairs.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the prime minister, made the announcement Thursday.
The Georgian Dream government has been referred to as “illigitimate,” and incumbent President Salome Zurabishvili has joined demonstrators in demanding a new vote.
Declaring the vote and Thursday’s EU decision to be unconstitutional and against the interests of the Georgian people, Zurabishvili has vowed to stay in office.
At a gathering of opposition leaders on Sunday, Zurabishvili stated: “We have a single demand that is grounded in the constitution. New elections are the only way to bring about stability. “.
Demonstrators at the entrance.
In the capital, Tbilisi, demonstrators gathered outside parliament on Sunday, chanting EU flags and beating on the building’s front door. Many of them were wearing protective masks to protect themselves from the tear gas that police have been using lately.
Some demonstrators have reportedly been forced to retreat close to Tbilisi State University after being pushed away by uniformed officers.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the prime minister, dismissed calls for a new vote on Saturday.
He declared, “The new government based on the October 26 parliamentary elections has been formed.”.
Because of “serious electoral irregularities” in the October ballot, the European Union has demanded an investigation and refused to acknowledge the incoming Georgian Dream government as the rightful victor.
The European Parliament has formally denounced the outcome and demanded that Kobakhidze and others face consequences.
In spite of a possible reversal from pro-European principles, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s openness to Georgia on Sunday. The Georgian government’s decision to depart from EU principles was met with “regret,” von der Leyen said in a statement published on X.
She wrote, “The door to the EU remains open.”. “The Georgian leadership has the power to put Georgia back on the EU path. “.”.
Georgian Dream’s presidential nomination was rejected by President Zurabishvili, who also asserted on Saturday that he had established a “national council” of opposition parties. She claimed that the presidency and the council would “ensure stability in this country.”. “.
According to constitutional experts, any actions taken by the new government, including appointments, will be void because Georgian Dream had accepted its own claim to victory before a court could rule on Zurabishvili’s attempt to void the vote.
Both the US and the EU denounce excessive police use.
With over 150 people arrested and officers pursuing and beating protesters, the police response to the demonstrations has been strong.
In recent days, water cannon, tear gas, and rubber bullets have all been used.
Maria Katamadze, the DW correspondent in Tbilisi, shared pictures on Sunday of protesters launching fireworks at parliament while police used water cannons.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s new top foreign policy representative, has warned against using excessive force against citizens in response to the harsh suppression of protests, which has received widespread international condemnation.
Speaking in Kyiv, Ukraine, Kallas stated: “It is obvious that assaulting nonviolent demonstrators is unacceptable, and [the] Georgian government should respect both the Georgian constitution and the will of the Georgian people. “.”.
Kallas warned of “direct consequences from EU side” in a post on the social media site X, saying, “We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future.”. “..”.
Despite worries that Georgia’s leadership appears to be moving away from pro-European ideals, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU’s open door policy toward the country.
On X, she wrote, “The door to the EU remains open.”. “The Georgian leadership is in charge of getting Georgia back on the EU path. “,”.
The United States expressed concern about the situation in Georgia, as did Britain, France, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine.
A spokesman for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, stated, “We have suspended our Strategic Partnership with Georgia and condemn excessive force used against Georgians exercising their freedom to protest.”.
the constant threat of Russia.
Most Georgians, according to polls, want their nation to join the European Union, a move that was formally enshrined in the former Soviet republic’s constitution. Nonetheless, Georgian Dream has strong pro-Russian sentiments, just like a few other European parties.
Georgian Dream’s victory claim was swiftly endorsed by pro-Russian ally Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who flew to the country just hours after the October polls ended. He recently expressed support for the EU decision made by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
The Kremlin has not yet made an official statement regarding the matter. The hawkish former president Dmitry Medvedev, however, wrote on Telegram that an attempted revolution was taking place in Georgia, indicating that Moscow is closely monitoring the situation.
He wrote, “This kind of thing usually ends very badly,” and that Georgia is “moving rapidly along the Ukrainian path, into the dark abyss.”. “,”.
Generally acknowledged as occupied rather than independent territories, Russia has a military presence in both the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and the former South Ossetian Autonomous region of Soviet Georgia, where it invaded Georgia in 2008.
js/sms (Reuters, DPA, and AFP).
