Georgia on fire: protests and political tensions shake the country

Clashes in Tbilisi, PM Kobakhidze rules out new elections while the EU condemns violent repression. Medvedev speaks of ‘attempted revolution’

Georgia is going through a wave of protests that are putting the government of Irakli Kobakhidze to the test. The prime minister has categorically ruled out the possibility of new legislative elections, despite the protests that have been inflaming the squares for days and fuelling internal tensions and international criticism.

‘Definitely not’ to early elections

Questioned by journalists, Kobakhidze replied firmly: ‘Certainly not,’ rejecting the call for new elections made by President Salome Zurabishvili, the opposition and the parliament. Zurabishvili, whose term of office ends at the end of the year, has stated that she will not resign before the deadline. However, the premier reminded her that ‘as of 29 December she will have to leave the residence and hand over the building to the legitimately elected president’.

Protests in the streets and the violent police response

For the third consecutive day, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tbilisi to express their dissent against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on EU membership until 2028. The pro-European protesters faced a harsh crackdown by police in riot gear, who used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. During the clashes, firecrackers and other objects were thrown at the police, while a fire was spotted inside the parliament.

EU condemnation

Kaja Kallas, newly elected EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, condemned the use of force against the protesters. In a speech during a visit to Kiev, she said: ‘It is unacceptable that the Georgian government resorts to violence against peaceful citizens. It should respect the will of the people’.

Medvedev: ‘An attempt at revolution’

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current chairman of the Security Council, described the situation in Georgia as an ‘attempt at revolution’, accusing the protesters of pushing the country towards a fate similar to that of Ukraine. ‘Usually, these situations end very badly,’ he commented on Telegram, underlining the perception of growing instability in the region.

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(photo: https://georgiatoday.ge)