Georgia, TBILISI (AP) Following the ruling party’s decision to halt talks to join the European Union until 2028, police and demonstrators engaged in violent altercations in Georgia.
After Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party made the announcement, demonstrators flocked to the streets, and police deployed tear gas, pepper spray, and water cannons to disperse them late Thursday.
European officials have denounced Georgian Dream’s claim of victory in last month’s parliamentary election, which the South Caucasus country’s opposition rejected as a hoax. The incumbent party had told voters that it would continue to pursue membership in the bloc, and the October 26 election was largely interpreted as a referendum on the nation’s ambitions to join the EU.
43 people were detained during the protests, according to the interior ministry.
According to President Salome Zourabichvili, the government declared war on its own citizens and asked riot police at the demonstration if they were from Georgia or Russia.
The mostly ceremonial president of Georgia has previously claimed that the ruling party stole the election with assistance from Russia, which formerly controlled Georgia from Moscow when it was a member of the Soviet Union.
According to her, the constitutional coup that had been taking place for weeks came to an end with the decision to suspend EU membership.
Hours after the European Parliament passed a resolution denouncing last month’s vote as neither free nor fair, the government announced it was halting its EU accession talks. This was just another example of the ongoing democratic regression for which the ruling Georgian Dream party bears full responsibility.
According to European election observers, the October poll was held in a contentious environment with incidents of physical violence, double voting, and bribery.
The EU gave Georgia candidate status in December 2023, provided it complied with the bloc’s recommendations. However, earlier this year, when a foreign influence law was passed that was generally viewed as a blow to democratic freedoms, the EU put a halt to Georgia’s entrance and stopped providing financial support.
Within a year, EU legislators called for a rerun of the parliamentary vote, overseen by an independent electoral administration and closely monitored by the international community. Additionally, they urged the EU to restrict official interactions with the Georgian government and apply sanctions.
“It is a great disgrace for the European Union that the ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia,” the prime minister of Georgia retorted, condemning what he called a “cascade of insults” from the EU politicians.
“We will not allow anyone to keep us in a constant state of blackmail and manipulation, which is completely disrespectful to our country and society,” Kobakhidze stated, adding that we will continue on our journey toward the European Union. We must make it abundantly evident to certain European politicians and bureaucrats—who are wholly lacking in European values—that they should address Georgia with respect rather than using insults and coercion.
Additionally, Kobakhidze declared that Georgia would not accept any EU fiscal aid until the end of 2028.
Georgian Dream, founded by mysterious millionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who amassed his wealth in Russia, has come under fire for allegedly growing more dictatorial and pro-Moscow. Recently, the party passed legislation that repressed LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech, much like the Kremlin did.
After parliament passed a law requiring organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from outside sources to register as pursuing the interest of a foreign power—a law that is similar to a Russian law used to discredit government-critical organizations—the EU suspended Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely in June.
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