Monday02 December 2024
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Georgian-style Maidan: the president backs the people while security forces attempt to suppress the resistance (video).

More and more people are taking to the streets.
Грузинский Майдан: президент на стороне народа, в то время как силовики пытаются подавить протесты (видео).

On Thursday, November 28, people gathered for an impromptu protest against the suspension of the country's Euro-integration in the capital of Georgia. It is known that the protesters blocked the road near the main office of "Georgian Dream" in Tbilisi and organized mass actions in several cities.

More and more people are joining the protesters, and Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili is preparing an emergency statement. This is reported by local Telegram channels.

Updated 23:10 Police are moving down from the side streets to Rustaveli Avenue, where the main group of protesters is located. Reports indicate that they are using gas. The number of detainees and injured is currently unknown.

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Meanwhile, the lights in the parliament have been turned off, including the outdoor lighting.

Updated 21:50: The number of protesters in the capital is rapidly increasing. Protests have also spread to Kutaisi, Zugdidi, and Batumi.

Clashes occurred at the side entrance of the parliament on Chichinadze Street, where law enforcement used smoke grenades and are trying to push the demonstrators back to Rustaveli Avenue. Special forces and equipment with water cannons have been deployed to the scene.

Accusations of treason are being directed at the law enforcement officers, who are being called "slaves" and "Russians." President Salome Zurabishvili personally arrived at the protest site and headed towards Freedom Square, where the main forces of law enforcement are concentrated.

Salome Zurabishvili positioned herself between the protesters and the special forces and addressed the latter: "Do you serve Russia or Georgia? Whom did you swear your oath to? I am interested in the answer. You do not respond to the president? Do you not think about the future? Neither for the country nor for the children?"

People are gathering in Tbilisi for an impromptu protest near the parliament building. Local discontent is fueled by the ruling party "Georgian Dream's" decision to suspend the country's Euro-integration.

The reason for this was Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's statement that the authorities of Georgia are abandoning negotiations for joining the European Union until 2028.

Kobakhidze also noted that Georgia is rejecting any budget grants from the EU until the end of 2028.

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Participants in the action claim that this decision is a betrayal of the country's interests and a violation of Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, which enshrines the aspiration for European integration.

According to them, such actions jeopardize Georgia's future and undermine years of efforts to get closer to Europe.

Some protesters have also gathered at the parliament building of Georgia on Rustaveli Avenue, where traffic is completely blocked.

Protests against "Georgian Dream" are also taking place in Batumi, Kutaisi, and Zugdidi.

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At this time in Tbilisi, President Salome Zurabishvili held a meeting with opposition figures following a meeting with diplomats and prepared an emergency statement.

She called for unity among the opposition and stated: "Today, in the face of this challenge, we are either together or we will not exist."

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Recall that the parliamentary elections in Georgia were held on October 26, 2024. The struggle was between the ruling party "Georgian Dream," which has been leading the country for 12 years, and pro-European opposition political forces. According to the Central Election Commission of Georgia, the ruling party, which is also considered pro-Russian, received over 54% of the votes, allowing it to unilaterally form the government.

President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili and pro-European opposition parties did not recognize the election results. Protests began in Tbilisi at the end of October.

Earlier, "Telegraph" reported that during the official announcement of the parliamentary election results in Georgia, the head of the Central Election Commission Georgy Kalandarishvili was splashed with black paint.