Protesters block avenue outside Georgian parliament in Tbilisi

An anti-government rally has once again erupted outside the Georgian parliament, with protesters blocking Rustaveli Avenue.

Although the number of protesters remains relatively small at the moment, the main thoroughfare near the parliament building is fully blocked, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

The demonstration was further supported by members of the IT sector, who marched toward the parliament in solidarity. The protest is peaceful, and it is expected that more citizens will join in the coming hours, as seen in previous days.

The protesters are voicing their dissatisfaction with the Georgian government's decision to suspend negotiations regarding European integration. In the afternoon, they began a march through the streets of Tbilisi, eventually gathering again in front of the parliament building in the evening, where additional protesters joined them.

This marks the 15th consecutive evening of protests, with the demonstrations showing no signs of slowing down.

The wave of protests in Georgia began on November 28, with nightly rallies held in front of parliament. These protests often extend into the early hours and sometimes end with riot police using special means to disperse demonstrators.

The protests were sparked by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement that the ruling party, Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia, would not include discussions on European Union accession in the national agenda until at least 2028.

The government also decided to forgo EU budgetary grants, citing continuous blackmail from the EU regarding the start of accession talks, demands to repeal certain laws passed by the parliament, and calls for sanctions against Georgian authorities.

By Vafa Guliyeva