Sun Dec 01 20:57:01 UTC 2024: ## Georgia Erupts in Protests After Government Shelves EU Talks

**Tbilisi, Georgia —** Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets for a fourth consecutive day, protesting the government’s decision to postpone European Union accession talks until 2028. The demonstrations, marked by clashes with police involving water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas, follow a disputed parliamentary election in October which the opposition claims was fraudulent.

The protests, which began after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the postponement on Thursday, have seen hundreds arrested. Demonstrators accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party of steering the country closer to Russia and away from its European aspirations, a charge the party denies.

President Salome Zurabishvili, who has called the new parliament and government “illegitimate,” has refused to step down and requested the constitutional court annul the election results. She has formed a “national council” of opposition parties and civil society to ensure stability. She contends that the October election lacked legitimacy and that no international body has recognized its outcome. Legal experts agree, claiming that the new parliament’s actions, including the nomination of Kobakhidze and the upcoming presidential election, are invalid.

The international community has strongly condemned the government’s actions. The EU’s foreign policy chief warned against the violence against protesters, and the U.S. suspended its Strategic Partnership with Georgia in response to the crackdown. Several other European nations have also expressed their concern. The European Parliament has called for a re-run of the election and sanctions against Georgian officials.

The widespread protests encompass various sectors, with hundreds of public servants, diplomats, and educational institutions joining the demonstrations. The government’s refusal to hold new elections has fueled public anger and intensified the crisis. The situation remains highly volatile as the protests continue.

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