Georgia police arrested a number of opposition figures during protests.

(CLO) On the evening of December 4, 2024, in the capital Tbilisi, Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the main opposition party in Georgia, was arrested by police along with a number of other figures during protests against the government.

For seven consecutive nights, thousands of Georgians protested, demanding an overturning of the election results and opposing the government's suspension of European Union (EU) accession negotiations.

An activist waves a Georgian flag outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, on December 4, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

The opposition Alliance for Change party posted a video on social media platform X showing Gvaramia, 48, a former media manager turned politician , being escorted away by several people while unconscious.

In addition to Gvaramia, police also arrested Aleko Elisashvili, leader of the opposition Strong Georgia party, a leader of the Dafioni youth movement, and at least six other members of opposition parties.

The Georgia Department of the Interior announced the arrest of seven people on charges of "organizing and leading collective violence," an offense punishable by up to nine years in prison. Searches of some of the suspects' homes resulted in the seizure of air guns, fireworks, and petrol bombs.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze denied accusations of suppressing the opposition, asserting that these were merely measures to "prevent" violence and uphold the law. He accused the opposition of supplying fireworks to protesters to attack security forces.

Meanwhile, human rights organizations and the EU have expressed concern. Anitta Hipper, the EU's spokesperson for foreign affairs, called on the Georgian authorities to stop the excessive use of force and ensure the right to "freedom of assembly".

Protests against the government have plunged this nation of 3.7 million people into crisis. President Salome Zourabichvili, who holds pro-EU views, has called on the West to increase its intervention with the Georgian government.

Conversely, Prime Minister Kobakhidze accused those opposing the government of plotting a "revolution," similar to Ukraine's 2014 Maidan Revolution which led to the overthrow of the government.

"In Georgia, a Maidan scenario is impossible. Georgia is a state, and of course the state would not allow this," Kobakhidze told local media recently.

Hong Hanh (according to AJ, Reuters, TASS)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/canh-sat-georgia-bat-hang-loat-nhan-vat-doi-lap-khi-bieu-tinh-ngay-cang-bao-luc-post324238.html