For the second consecutive evening, Georgian riot police used tear gas and water cannons on Friday November 29 against thousands of pro-European demonstrators gathered in Tbilisi against the government’s decision to postpone integration negotiations in the EU.
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Thousands of people gathered again this Friday evening in front of the Parliament in central Tbilisi at the call of the pro-European opposition, after the arrest of around forty demonstrators the previous night following a violent dispersal of the demonstration. But the riot police again used tear gas and water cannons against the demonstrators, who for their part threw eggs and launched fireworks.
Independent TV channel Pirveli reported that one of its journalists was hospitalized with serious injuries after being beaten with her cameraman by police. The Ministry of the Interior, for its part, affirmed that two of its men had been injured and that “ the measures provided for by law had been taken to calm the situation “.
“ The self-proclaimed Georgian Dream government is doing everything it can to destroy the chances of Georgia to join theEuropean Union “, denounced Laura Kekelidze, a 39-year-old teacher, during this demonstration Friday evening in Tbilisi. “ But Georgians are part of Europe, and that’s why we are on the streets today. » Protests also took place in several cities in Georgia on Friday, according to the Mtavari television channel.
The government, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift, triggered this wave of mobilization by announcing, Thursday, November 28, the postponement until 2028 of all European integration negotiations. The president Salomé Zourabichvilialthough having limited powers, expressed its support: “ We will remain united until Georgia achieves its goals: returning to the European path. »
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On Thursday evening and Friday morning, riot police fired rubber bullets and used tear gas and water cannons, hitting protesters and journalists outside Parliament. Opposite, the demonstrators had erected barricades which they set on fire. According to the Ministry of the Interior, “ 43 people were arrested » during the night from Thursday to Friday. According to him, 32 police officers were injured “ following the illegal and violent actions of the demonstrators “.
“ Brutal repressions »
The Council of Europe has condemned the “ brutal repression of demonstrations » in Tbilisi, also expressing alarm at the decision of the Georgian government to suspend its negotiations with the EU. Amnesty International denounced a desire to “ suppress all dissent through the unlawful use of police force “.
Ukraine, which itself experienced a pro-European revolution in 2014 after the authorities at the time attempted under pressure from Moscow to suspend rapprochement with the EU, denounced a “ use of force » and a “ limitation of democratic processes »operated according to her « to please Moscow “.
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution rejecting the results of the Georgian parliamentary elections, denouncing “ significant irregularities “. He asks for a new ballot under international supervision within a year and calls for sanctions against senior officials, including Irakli Kobakhidze, president of the Georgian Dream party.
France called for “ respect for right to demonstrate peacefully » and reaffirmed its support for “ European aspirations » of Georgia, which she considers “ not to be betrayed “.
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