Mass protests in Georgia over EU bid for membership withdrawal
3 Min Read
Georgia faces mass protests and backlash from the EU after suspending its EU membership bid, with demonstrators clashing violently with police and accusing the government of democratic backsliding.
-
A demonstrator uses firecrackers against police as protesters rally against the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years, outside the parliament's building in Tbilisi, Georgia, early on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)
News sources on Sunday reported a deepening political crisis in Georgia after the government suspended its pursuit of European Union membership, igniting mass protests and condemnation on part of the EU.
The unrest, now in its third consecutive night, has seen tens of thousands of demonstrators take to the streets in Tbilisi, demanding new elections amid violent crackdowns by authorities.
Georgia Unrest
The protests erupted after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would delay its EU membership efforts until at least 2028 and reject EU funding, despite previous promises to join the bloc by the decade’s end.
The move has led to accusations of democratic backsliding and a growing divide between the government and its pro-European citizenry.
Over the weekend, an estimated 100,000 protesters surrounded the Georgian Parliament, forming barricades and clashing with police.
Videos posted on social media showed officers deploying water cannons, tear gas, and physically attacking demonstrators.
Fires were reported in the vicinity of the parliament building, symbolizing the intensity of the public outrage.
🇬🇪 The Georgian riot police must show no mercy to these terrorists!
— Gabe (@GabeZZOZZ) November 29, 2024
Don't give them an inch! Don't repeat the mistakes Yanukovych made in 2014!
NATO and the EU must not be allowed to get their claws on Georgia and ruin it like they did with Ukraine!
pic.twitter.com/Iab9lBm72b
Georgian Dream, the conservative populist party currently in power, achieved nearly 54% of the vote, with over 99.9% of ballots counted.
However, the pro-Western opposition has alleged vote-buying and voter intimidation, claims echoed by the US State Department.
On November 16, a recount of the results showed the Georgian Dream party securing 53.93% of the vote and 89 seats in parliament.
Despite this, President Zourabichvili continued to refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the Georgian Dream party’s victory.
Read more: Russia stays out of Georgia's affairs unlike the West: Zakharova
Georgian PM blames 'EU politicians and agents' for unrest
On November 30, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has promised that the country will not allow a situation like Ukraine's Maidan to unfold.
He alluded to the color revolution in Kiev a decade ago, which deposed Ukraine's democratically elected president, sparked hostilities across the nation, and resulted in the current war between the country and Russia.
“Unlike Ukraine in 2013, Georgia is an independent state with strong institutions and, most importantly, experienced and wise people. The Maidan scenario cannot be realized in Georgia. Georgia is a sovereign state and will not allow this,” Kobakhidze said during a conference on Saturday, as reported by News Georgia.
He explained how the present violent upheaval in Georgia, like the Maidan coup, is the product of EU politicians and their operatives interfering with the country's affairs.
"The main responsibility for yesterday's violent rally lies with the relevant European politicians and bureaucrats, with local agents, the fifth column, which is represented by four opposition parties," said the minister.
