Georgia’s ruling party faced public backlash and protests after announcing a delay in European Union (EU) accession negotiations, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets for two consecutive days. On Saturday, police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray in an attempt to disperse thousands of pro-EU protesters.
Since the ruling party “Georgian Dream” declared victory in the parliamentary elections in October this year, this Black Sea country has been in turmoil. The pro-EU opposition accuses the election of fraud.
According to opinion polls, the majority of the population in Georgia hopes to join the EU. Starting from Thursday, thousands of protesters gathered outside the parliament building.
The goal of Georgia’s EU accession has been enshrined in the constitution, leading to widespread anger over the freezing of accession negotiations.
Protesters waving Georgian and EU flags approached the parliament building, constructed in the Soviet era with fortress-like architecture, and hurled eggs and fireworks at the police. The police responded by firing water cannons, tear gas, and other measures to drive the protesters away to Rustaveli Boulevard and the nearby opera house area.
Even past midnight, thousands of demonstrators remained, building makeshift barricades and facing off against the police. Flames lit up the boulevard.
The pro-Western independent President Salome Zurabishvili, whose relationship with the ruling party is strained, expressed support for the protest movement in a nationally televised speech, saying, “The resistance movement has begun… I support it.”
Zurabishvili stated, “We will remain united until Georgia achieves its goal of returning to the European path and holding new elections.”
Nika Gvaramia, leader of the main opposition party “Coalition for Change” in Georgia, also joined the protesters. He warmed his hands by a bonfire while saying, “We will be here each night until they give up.”
“This is our country; we only have one country. We fight for Europe,” Gvaramia said.
Former Georgian parliament member and another leader of the “Coalition for Change,” Elene Khoshtaria, had her hand broken during Thursday’s protest and now wears a sling. She stated, “We will not yield, we will not give up, but I believe the international community should consider how to support those who truly believe in European values.”
Hundreds of staff from the Georgian ministries of foreign affairs, defense, education, and justice signed an open letter on Friday condemning the freeze of accession negotiations, citing a violation of the constitution.
Several private universities announced the suspension of classes, and business groups called on the government to reconsider its position.
The EU Ambassador to Georgia expressed on Friday that the stance of “Georgian Dream” is “heartbreaking” and condemned the authorities’ crackdown on protesters.