Georgia detains two more individuals amid ongoing anti-government protests

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has detained two additional individuals in connection with the ongoing unrest in Tbilisi.

The individuals are accused of organizing and participating in violent protests near the parliament building. One of the detainees is a foreign national, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"The accused, during the rally on Rustaveli Avenue, acted violently as part of a group, resisted the police, disobeyed lawful demands, and threw various objects at them," the ministry's statement said. This brings the total number of arrests since the start of the protests to 28 individuals facing criminal charges.

The latest protest occurred at night on Rustaveli Avenue, which initially remained peaceful. However, as the protest progressed, demonstrators began launching fireworks at the police. In response, authorities decided to push the crowd away from the parliament building. As a result, 48 individuals were detained on administrative charges.

The wave of anti-government demonstrations in Georgia reignited on November 28 after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the ruling party, Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia, would not include the issue of EU accession negotiations in the agenda until the end of 2028. The government also declared its refusal of EU budget grants.

Meanwhile, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili is currently on a visit to France, where, according to her administration, she will meet with French leadership to discuss the ongoing political situation in Georgia. The specific individuals she will meet with have not yet been disclosed.

Since November 28, Zourabichvili has engaged in discussions with various European leaders, including the Presidents of Finland, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, and Estonia. She has also spoken with European Council President António Costa, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas and the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.

Meanwhile, more than five weeks have passed since the 2024 parliamentary elections, yet Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, has yet to receive congratulations from old allies and partners.

In response to the ongoing unrest, the foreign ministers of the "Weimar Triangle" (Germany, Poland, France) issued a joint statement on December 6, condemning the actions of the ruling party and calling for an inclusive dialogue to resolve the crisis.

By Vugar Khalilov