Key Takeaways:
• Over 40 people hospitalized during third night of protests in Georgia’s capital
• Prime Minister dismisses rumors of halted European integration
• U.S. State Department suspends its strategic partnership with Georgia
• Widespread diplomatic resignations since protests began
• European Union expresses concern over Georgia’s ongoing democratic backslide
Tensions in Georgia Continue to Escalate
Demonstrations against the Georgian government’s decision to halt talks regarding joining the European Union escalated onto the third night. Resulting clashes led to 44 hospitalizations. Thousands amassed outside the Parliament building last Saturday evening, brandishing stones and fireworks. In response, police wielded water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds. Demonstrators even went as far as setting an effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the governing Georgian Dream party, ablaze.
Government Officials Respond
Breaking down the figures on Sunday, Georgia’s Interior Ministry revealed 27 protesters, 16 law enforcement officers, and one media personnel were among those needing medical attention. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze admonished the disruptive behavior promising a stern response to any actions breaching the law.
Speaking at a briefing, Kobakhidze decried alleged false claims surrounding Georgia’s purported halt in European integration. According to the Prime Minister, the government rejected unsavory blackmail. His address came only hours after the European Parliament presented criticisms over Georgia’s last general election, said to be neither free nor fair.
US-Georgia Relationship in Limbo
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department announced a pause to its strategic partnership with Georgia. In response to the halted EU accession aspirations, the U.S. issued a strong rebuke. Kobakhidze, however, dismissed the U.S. stance as a calculated move by the outgoing administration to burden the incoming one. Besides, he confirmed that Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S., David Zalkaliani, joined the growing list of diplomats stepping down since protests sparked off.
EU Voices Serious Concerns
The European Union expressed its apprehensions about the situation. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and enlargement commissioner Marta Kos issued a joint statement on Sunday on Georgia’s decision to suspend negotiations. Their statement emphasized the marked shift this decision marks in Georgian policies. They also reiterated EU’s worries about the declining status of democracy in Georgia.
Political Unrest Rages On
The ruling Georgian Dream party’s contentious victory in the October 26 parliamentary election sparked widespread demonstrations. Opposition parties view the election as manipulated with the aid of Russia, aiming to maintain its influence over Georgia.
Speaking to press, President Salome Zourabichvili painted a grim picture, terming her country a “quasi-Russian” state and stating the Georgian Dream as the dominant force. She clarified that the populace was not clamoring for a revolution, rather a demand for fair elections.
Impact on Georgia’s EU Candidacy
The EU offered Georgia candidate status in December 2023, contingent on its adherence to the bloc’s recommendations. However, the EU put accession talks on hold and cut financial aid after the passage of a vague “foreign influence” law, widely regarded as a blow to democratic freedoms.
As the protests continue and international relationships become tense, the people of Georgia and their government face challenging times. The international community will be closely watching how Georgia addresses the crisis and its European aspirations going forward.