Anti-government protesters gathered for the twelfth consecutive night in Tbilisi; Britain has announced it will suspend engagement with the Georgian government in response to 'shocking violence.' Protesters in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, gathered again on Monday evening, December 9, in front of the parliament building to protest the government's decision to halt negotiations for EU membership. AFP reported that thousands of protesters were present on Monday evening, demanding a rerun of parliamentary elections and a return to negotiations with the EU. The ruling party, 'Georgian Dream,' declared victory in the recent parliamentary elections, after which Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced that negotiations for EU membership would be suspended until 2028. Protests began immediately after this announcement and have continued for twelve consecutive nights. The President of Georgia stated, 'The whole country has risen up.' On Monday, some protesters set up a large Christmas tree on the sidewalk near the parliament, adorned with pictures of protesters who were victims of police violence. In recent nights, police have resorted to using water cannons and firing tear gas, violently detaining several protesters; over 400 arrests have been reported during this period. Meanwhile, on Monday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the scenes as 'shocking and unacceptable' and condemned the violence against protesters. According to Reuters, Mr. Lammy stated that Britain would 'suspend all programs supporting the Georgian government and limit defense cooperation.' He also mentioned that 'until these actions cease to be far from democratic norms and European freedoms, engagement with the ruling party of Georgia will remain limited.' Previously, the United States, France, Germany, and several other countries expressed concern over the Georgian government's violence against protesters. The Georgian opposition accuses the ruling party of authoritarianism and moving closer to Russia. The Prime Minister of Georgia has denied these accusations and labeled the protesters as 'violent groups.' A judicial inspector in Georgia has accused the police of torturing protesters.
Twelfth Night of Protests in Tbilisi; Britain Suspends Engagement with Georgian Government
Protests in Tbilisi against the Georgian government's suspension of EU membership negotiations have continued for twelve nights, with thousands participating. The British government has suspended engagement with Georgia in response to police violence against protesters. This situation highlights growing tensions in Georgia and concerns about authoritarianism and human rights violations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Protests in Tbilisi have continued for twelve nights against the Georgian government's suspension of EU membership negotiations. Britain has suspended engagement with Georgia in response to police violence against protesters.
- Protests began after the announcement to suspend EU membership talks until 2028.
- Over 400 arrests have been reported, with police using water cannons and tear gas.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Georgia has been pursuing closer ties with the EU, but recent political decisions have sparked fears of authoritarianism and closer ties with Russia.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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