Georgian protests continue as PM defends EU membership delay

Another protest is taking place outside the Georgian Parliament building in Tbilisi, with Rustaveli Avenue blocked off.

Throughout the day, various marches were held across Tbilisi, with participants eventually gathering outside the Parliament, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Among them was a women’s march, which was greeted by outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili as it passed by her residence. The demonstration is taking place peacefully.

The latest wave of protests began in Georgia on November 28. Demonstrations have been held daily outside the Parliament. The first week of protests was the most intense, with some protesters using fireworks against the police, while the authorities responded with water cannons and tear gas.

Clashes continued throughout the night, with special forces eventually pushing protesters off Rustaveli Avenue. In recent days, the protests have become peaceful, and police no longer patrol the area. Protesters voluntarily disperse around midnight.

The protests were sparked by a statement from Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who announced that the ruling party, Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia, had decided not to include negotiations on EU membership on the agenda until the end of 2028 and would reject all EU budget grants.

According to the Prime Minister, the decision was prompted by ongoing blackmail from the EU regarding the start of membership talks, demands to annul several laws passed by the Parliament, and calls for sanctions against the Georgian authorities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev