Christmas tree in Tbilisi. Photo: Border.
Tbilisi, 8 December – The mayor’s office of the Georgian capital has begun to set up a Christmas tree near the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue, which has become the epicentre of protests by supporters of European integration. This was reported by the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing Liga.
The installation of the festive decorations began early in the morning, but it is not yet clear how peaceful protests will be combined with festive events in the area. It is known that today, 8 December, the activists plan to gather for another rally at 15:00 on Republic Square, after which they will march to the parliament.
Attacks on protesters and journalists
Despite a relatively calm night, there is growing concern about attacks on protesters by unknown individuals. In particular, a film crew of TV Pirveli was attacked two blocks away from the Parliament. In addition, there have been reports of so-called ‘titushky’ attacking protesters.
Reasons for the mass protests
The protests in Tbilisi began on 28 November, when the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced that Georgia would not be negotiating to join the EU by 2028. This caused outrage among pro-European forces and the public.
On 30 November, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who supports integration with the EU, said that the current parliament is illegitimate and cannot elect a new president. She announced that her term would continue until new elections are held.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 224 people have been detained during the protests in Tbilisi since 2 December. On 5 December, the opposition issued a number of demands to the leader of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, calling for democratic reforms.
Despite the festive initiatives, the situation in Tbilisi remains tense. The installation of a Christmas tree amidst protests has become a symbol of the complex combination of the desire for a festive atmosphere and the desire of citizens to achieve justice and democratic change.
