Georgian police have arrested Zurab Japaridze, an opposition leader and one of the most prominent figures in the protest movement, after the fourth night of demonstrations in Tbilisi. This happened against the backdrop of massive unrest caused by the government’s decision to suspend EU accession talks, The Guardian reports.
Details of the arrest
Dzhaparidze was detained on his way out of the protest in front of the parliament. He was put into a police van with no identification marks. The footage shows masked security forces taking the oppositionist away, and the reason for the detention has not yet been disclosed.
The Coalition for Change, the country’s largest opposition force, said the government’s actions were part of a crackdown on social movements that defend Georgia’s European path.
Protests and their causes
The demonstrations began after the government announced the temporary suspension of EU membership negotiations. This decision sparked public outrage, which accused the government of rapprochement with Russia.
The authorities responded harshly, with police using water cannons and tear gas to disperse thousands of people gathered on Rustaveli Avenue. According to the Interior Ministry, 21 police officers and 113 protesters have been injured in recent days.
International reaction
The US and EU have expressed concern over the deterioration of democracy in Georgia. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who supports the protesters, said that violence by security forces is unacceptable. She also stressed that the protest movement is an expression of the Georgian people’s desire for a European future.
“This is an uprising of an entire country for democracy and freedom,” Zurabishvili said in an interview with France Inter.
Moscow’s reaction
Russia denies interfering in Georgian affairs, but former President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened that Georgia could follow “Ukraine’s path”, hinting at the risks of escalation.
Next steps
The opposition has announced that the protests will continue until the government changes its decision on the EU. At the same time, the ruling party accuses the demonstrators of trying to overthrow the constitutional order.
The confrontation in Georgia is becoming a new test for regional stability and its strategic course between Europe and Russia.
