Afp
La Jornada Newspaper
Monday, December 2, 2024, p. 26
Tbilisi. Police in Georgia used tear gas and water cannon yesterday in the fourth consecutive day of pro-European Union demonstrations, following the government’s refusal to organize new elections as demanded by the opposition.
The former Soviet republic held legislative elections on October 26. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, claimed victory, but the opposition denounced irregularities and called for new elections, a claim supported by the country’s president, Salome Zurabishvili, who has limited powers.
Of course notresponded the Prime Minister, Irakli Kobajidze, to journalists who asked him if the government, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift, would agree to organize new elections.
Protests broke out in the capital, Tbilisi, and other cities after Kobajidze announced on Thursday the government’s decision to postpone European Union accession negotiations until 2028.
The Executive wants the country to be part of the bloc by 2030.
The protests were dispersed and left more than 150 arrested and dozens of officers injured, according to the police. The Georgian Association of Young Lawyers estimated that there are 200.
In some instances, police chased protesters down several streets, beating them and firing rubber bullets and tear gas.
Levan Jabeishvili, leader of the opposition United National Movement, reported that he was attacked by about 15 masked police officers who tried to arrest him, and that he was able to escape with the help of other protesters.
In parallel with the demonstrations, hundreds of officials and judges published common statements in protest, and some 160 Georgian diplomats criticized the government’s decision, considering that it goes against the Constitution and leads to international isolation of the country.
