Georgia sees growing protests VIDEO

Students and civil servants have gathered at First Republic Square in Tbilisi, Georgia and are marching towards the parliament building. 

They will join supporters of the pro-Western opposition, who have been protesting for fourteen days against the government's decision to remove the country's EU accession talks from the agenda until 2028, Caliber.Az reports citing Georgian media.

A new wave of protests began in Georgia on November 28, with demonstrations taking place daily outside the parliament building. These protests typically last through the night, and usually end with riot police dispersing the crowds using special equipment. However, the recent protest was peaceful, with citizens leaving Rustaveli Avenue on their own accord.

The protests were sparked by a statement from Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, announcing that the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party had decided not to include negotiations on EU membership in the agenda until the end of 2028, and to reject all budgetary grants from the EU. Kobakhidze said that the decision was driven by constant blackmail from the EU regarding the start of accession talks, demands to repeal several laws passed by the Georgian parliament, and calls for sanctions against Georgian authorities.

By Naila Huseynova