Opposition protest in Tbilisi ends with clashes and detentions

An opposition protest rally on Shota Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi concluded on the morning of November 30, with police carrying out harsh detentions of protesters who remained on the barricades.

Tens of thousands of people participated in the rally. Initially, the majority of protesters gathered outside the parliament building, chanting slogans and blocking the central Shota Rustaveli Avenue, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

However, the situation soon escalated. Protesters began throwing firecrackers and paint bottles at the police, banging on the gates of the parliament with improvised objects, and attempting to break down the side gates.

The Georgian Interior Ministry labelled the rally as ‘beyond the law,’ citing damage to infrastructure and the setting of fires. The entrance gate to the parliament building was also reported to be damaged, the ministry stated.

In response, police used water cannons and pepper spray, and detentions were carried out. The protesters were pushed away from the parliament building, but some remained on Rustaveli Avenue, attempting to erect barricades using benches and bins. Several demonstrators and law enforcement officers sustained injuries.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who expressed support for the opposition protesters, referred to the rally as a ‘resistance movement.’ "The resistance movement has begun... I am in solidarity with it," Zourabichvili was quoted as saying by AFP. “We will remain united until Georgia achieves its goals: returning to the European path and holding new elections,” she added.

The president also addressed law enforcement, urging them not to use force against the protesters, emphasizing that their actions were peaceful. “In all respects, it is clear that no one is ready to tolerate a crippled Georgia, a Georgia where its constitution has been taken away, a Georgia in the hands of an illegitimate government and parliament,” Zourabichvili said.

The protests were sparked by a statement from Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who announced the suspension of negotiations on the country's European Union membership until 2028. He also revealed that Georgia would forgo all EU budget grants and loans for the next four years. Kobakhidze made this announcement just hours after the European Parliament passed a resolution rejecting the results of Georgia's recent parliamentary elections, citing widespread violations. The European Parliament called for new elections to be held within a year.

As the rally grew in size, reinforced police units were deployed to manage the crowd, and they blocked access to streets leading to the rear of the parliament building.

By Vafa Guliyeva