Georgian president on violent dispersal of protesters in Tbilisi: Russian government, Russian methods – video
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has responded to the actions of security forces against protesters in Tbilisi who gathered on 28 November to peacefully protest against the government's refusal to negotiate with the EU.
Source: Zourabichvili on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: Zourabichvili was commenting on footage showing protesters being detained, including in a pharmacy in Tbilisi. She noted that there is no safe place left in Georgia: neither in churchyards nor in pharmacies, as protesters are being chased by "robocops" (security forces) everywhere.
"Russian government, Russian methods," Zourabichvili wrote, referring to the current Georgian government and the violent suppression of the peaceful protest.
Background:
- On the night of 28-29 November, special forces of the Georgian Interior Ministry violently dispersed a protest in the centre of Tbilisi that began over the authorities' decision to suspend European integration. The security forces used water cannons and tear gas against the protesters.
- They also acted extremely brutally, roughly detaining protesters and beating them, as well as media representatives.
- On the evening of 28 November, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a briefing during which he announced a pause in the EU accession negotiations. Kobakhidze said that Tbilisi would postpone starting negotiations with the European Union until the end of 2028 and would join the EU by 2030.
- Kobakhidze explained the reason as "blackmail" by some European politicians and bureaucrats, which was offensive to Georgia.
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