Georgia puts EU dreams on hold as thousands hit streets in protest
Mass protests sweep Georgia after government delays EU membership plans until 2028. Police clash with demonstrators in Tbilisi while president questions new parliaments legitimacy
Georgias capital turned into a hot-spot of civil unrest as riot-police used tear-gas against pro-EU protestors (who gathered near the parliament building on Nov 29th)
Irakli Kobakhidze the prime-minister made a game-changing announcement: putting off EU membership talks til 2028; which sparked nation-wide demonstrations. The decision came right after Euro-Parliament didnt accept Oct elections results due to voting problems
Today‚ this non-existent and illegitimate government declared war on its own people
The protest turned rough when law-enforcement started using water-cannons and rubber-bullets against peaceful crowd. Many news-reporters got hurt while doing their job‚ and some protesters built make-shift barriers on streets
The political mess started after October voting when:
- ruling party Georgian Dream claimed victory
- opposition said there was fraud
- president called elections unconstitutional
- new parliament got no opposition members
The ex-Soviet state got its EU candidate status about a year ago but Brussels stopped the process because of democracy issues. Kobakhidze blamed Euro-MPs for blackmail saying Georgia will be more ready than others by 2028‚ though protesters like 20-year old Shota Sabashvili think ruling party is killing their European future
Interior ministry reported that three police-men got injuries in clashes; two needed hospital care. They said force was used because protesters started physical confrontation
