Continuing protests against the Georgian government's decision to postpone EU membership negotiations, thousands gathered in Tbilisi, with Reuters describing this demonstration as the largest opposition gathering since the ruling party's re-election announcement. The protests on Saturday night, December 1st, were held for the third consecutive night in front of the Georgian Parliament building in Tbilisi, where protesters, holding Georgian and EU flags, voiced their opposition to the government's decision. According to Reuters, riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters. The report noted that some protesters set up barricades in the surrounding streets, threw fireworks at the police, and set fire to a statue of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the ruling party 'Georgian Dream.' The Saturday night demonstration was the largest protest in the past month since the ruling party's re-election announcement. A small fire briefly broke out in part of the Parliament building, reportedly caused by fireworks. Additionally, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that several other cities in Georgia also witnessed anti-government protests on Saturday night. On Saturday morning, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, and the country's security service accused the protesters of attempting a revolution and overthrowing the government. On the other hand, Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, stated on Saturday that since the new parliament 'lacks legitimacy,' she would not resign from her position after her term ends next month. The ruling party 'Georgian Dream' announced last month that it received 54% of the votes in the parliamentary elections and has won again; government opponents reported widespread violations and 'Russian influence' in these elections, and the United States and the European Union have also stated that they do not recognize the announced results. On Saturday, Georgian media also reported that diplomats from this country in the USA, Italy, the Netherlands, and Lithuania resigned from their positions in protest against the suspension of EU membership negotiations. Additionally, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a star of the Georgian national football team and a member of the Italian club Napoli, also supported the protesters.
Massive Crowd of Protesters on the Third Night of Demonstrations in the Capital of Georgia
Thousands of protesters gathered in Tbilisi for the third consecutive night against the Georgian government's decision to postpone EU membership negotiations. The protests have escalated, with accusations of government repression and widespread claims of electoral fraud. This situation is significant as it highlights the tensions between the Georgian government and its citizens, as well as the influence of external powers like Russia.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Thousands protested in Tbilisi against the Georgian government's decision to postpone EU membership negotiations, marking the largest opposition gathering since recent elections. The protests escalated with accusations of government repression and claims of electoral fraud.
- Protests occurred for three consecutive nights, with riot police using water cannons and tear gas against demonstrators.
- Diplomats from several countries resigned in protest against the government's actions.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Georgia has been navigating its path towards EU integration while grappling with internal political challenges, including accusations of electoral fraud and government repression.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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