Sun Dec 01 14:36:03 UTC 2024: ## Georgia in Crisis: Protests Erupt Amidst Government Crackdown and EU Accession Halt
TBILISI, GEORGIA – Georgia is embroiled in a deepening political crisis following the government’s decision to halt European Union accession talks for four years, sparking widespread protests and international condemnation.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze lauded police actions against demonstrators, claiming they were acting on foreign orders to destabilize the country. He dismissed US criticism of the police’s use of water cannons and tear gas, asserting that Georgian law enforcement acted with greater restraint than their American and European counterparts. The US has since suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia.
The protests, which have occurred nightly in Tbilisi and across the country, follow the Georgian Dream party’s announcement last Thursday. The EU and the US are deeply concerned by what they perceive as Georgia’s shift towards Russia, a move echoed by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who warned of a “revolution” and compared Georgia’s trajectory to Ukraine’s. The Kremlin has yet to officially comment.
Adding to the turmoil, outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a staunch EU supporter, announced she will refuse to leave office at the end of her term, deeming the newly elected parliament illegitimate. The government, however, insists she must step down. The Georgian Dream party has nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili, known for his anti-Western stance, as its presidential candidate.
The crisis is further fueled by recent legislation requiring NGOs receiving significant foreign funding to register as “foreign agents” and another restricting LGBT rights. The government defends these actions as necessary to protect Georgia from foreign interference and potential war with Russia. However, critics and Western governments view these actions as increasingly authoritarian and pro-Russian.
The EU’s new foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, expressed solidarity with the Georgian protesters and condemned the violence, warning of consequences for Georgia’s actions. The situation remains tense, with further protests planned and the future of Georgia’s pro-Western trajectory hanging in the balance.
First Piper 