Law enforcement officers mobilised for protests in Georgia. Photo: Jan Schmidt-Witley/Le Pictorium/imagestock
During massive anti-government demonstrations in Tbilisi, police arrested Nika Gvaramia, leader of the main opposition party Coalition of Changes. According to eyewitnesses, the man was beaten and dragged outside by masked men. The party released a video of the unconscious politician being transferred to a police car, Reuters reported.
In addition, at least eight other representatives of opposition parties and movements were detained, including Aleko Elisashvili, leader of the Strong Georgia party, and activists of the Dafioni youth protest movement.
Repression and accusations of “attempted revolution”
The ruling pro-Russian authorities accuse the opposition of attempting to organise a “revolution according to the Ukrainian scenario”. The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the arrest of seven people on charges of “directing group violence” and reported the seizure of Molotov cocktails, fireworks and air guns during searches.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze rejected the accusations of repression, calling the authorities’ actions “prevention”, and said that protesters received pyrotechnics from opposition parties to attack the police.
Brutal suppression of protests
Amid the protests, which have been going on for several days, police have been using water cannons and tear gas. The civil ombudsman accused the authorities of torturing detainees, and human rights organisations reported numerous cases of ill-treatment.
Criticism from the EU and Ukraine
The Georgian government’s decision to suspend talks with the EU has deepened the crisis. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called on international partners to put pressure on the ruling party:
“The country is on the edge of an abyss. The time for action has come!”
The European Commission condemned the violence against the protesters and called for an investigation into the actions of the police.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reacted, calling the actions of the Georgian authorities “shameful” and accusing them of rapprochement with Russia.
The confrontation continues
Anti-government sentiment in Georgia is growing, underpinned by demands for democratic reforms and a pro-European course. The opposition vows to continue the struggle despite repression, while the government’s actions are increasingly causing concern among the international community.
