(CLO) Police clashed with thousands of protesters in the capital Tbilisi early Friday morning, after Georgia's new government announced the suspension of negotiations on joining the European Union (EU) until 2028.
Thousands of pro-EU protesters blocked major roads in Tbilisi. Outgoing Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili also joined the protests, even leading the crowd in clashes with police.
Georgia's Interior Ministry confirmed that three police officers were injured in the clashes. Security forces used water cannon, tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd as a group of masked youths tried to break down the doors of parliament. Some protesters threw fireworks at police.
Outgoing Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also took part in a protest in Tbilisi on November 28, 2024. Photo: Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP/Getty
Relations between Georgia and the EU have deteriorated in recent months, with Brussels accusing the Georgian government of pro-Russian bias.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has criticized the EU, saying it is using the prospect of accession talks as a tool to "intimidate and organize revolution in Georgia", as well as interfere in the country's internal affairs.
In a recent statement, the Georgian Dream Party affirmed that it will not put the issue of EU accession negotiations on the agenda until the end of 2028 and refuse to receive any budget funding from the EU during the same period.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that joining the EU could harm Georgia's economy , as it would require the country to cancel trade and visa-free agreements with many other countries.
The decision sparked outrage from the opposition, with protesters carrying European Union and national flags outside most government buildings.
President Zourabichvili, who is pro-EU but whose power is largely symbolic, called the new administration's actions "a declaration of war on Georgia's past and future".
Meanwhile, the Dream Party has nominated a hardline anti-Western candidate to replace Ms Zourabichvili when her term ends in December. He is Mr Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City player.
The opposition and critics accuse the Dream Party of steering the country closer to Russia. Georgia broke away to become an independent state after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Russia and Georgia have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since their brief war in 2008, but have recently improved relations.
Speaking from Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the "courage" of the Georgian government in passing a law on "foreign agents", aimed at limiting outside interference in the country's internal affairs.
Cao Phong (according to CNN, AP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tong-thong-sap-man-nhiem-georgia-bieu-tinh-phan-doi-quyet-dinh-ngung-gia-nhap-eu-post323409.html
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