Georgia: Conflict intensifies in Tbilisi as suspended EU talks spark outrage; Protest moves to day 4

Dec 02, 2024

outrage; Protest moves to day 4 Tbilisi (Georgia), December 2 (ANI): Demonstrations continued in Georgian capital Tbilisi late on November 30 in protest against the government. The angry protestors demonstrated after the Government called off talks to join the European Union. Protesters & police skirmished in Tbilisi for a 4th straight night, dragging on to the wee hour of Dec 2. Police began moving demonstrators away from the parliament building and began erecting barricades. Notably on December 1, a small portion of the parliament caught fire possibly caused by the fireworks outside the building. Tensions have been rising for months between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opponents who accuse it of being authoritarian. However, the crisis has deepened since Nov 28, announcement that Govt would freeze EU talks for 4 years. The protest was by far biggest since increasingly anti-Western ruling party was re-elected last month in a vote the pro-EU opposition says was rigged.