In Georgia, shares that began in protest against the government’s decision to suspend European integration for four years.
On the eighth night of demonstrations near the parliament building in Tbilisi with the flags of Georgia and the European Union, thousands of demonstrators gathered again.
shares demanding the abolition of decisions adopted by the Government and re -holding parliamentary elections in other cities of the country. Demonstrators with the flags of Georgia and the European Union in their hands shouted anti -government slogans.
In the capital, the protesters blocked the movement on Shota Rustaveli Avenue and incurred bonfires to warm up.
At several points, demonstrators were handed out hot drinks and snacks. The police strengthened security measures in the area of the action.
On the Square of Freedom, located near the Prospekt, for safety purposes, special forces and water -bearing cars of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs were located.
The president called on the Prime Minister to resign
In the meantime, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili evaluated the latest events in the country in an interview with the local state television channel “Channel One”.
The head of state criticized the government for the decision to suspend the process of joining the EU and called on Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to resign.
Zurabli again disagreed with the results of the parliamentary elections organized in the country on October 26 and emphasized the need to organize a second vote.
The politician noted that Georgian society expressed a desire to become part of the EU, but the government did not remain true to this principle.
Having accused the Tbilisi administration of trying to abandon relations with Western allies, Zurabishvili said that this situation is “beneficial” only to Russia.
The government’s decision on the suspension of European integration
Protest shares began in Tbilisi and other cities of Georgia after the statement of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that the republic will not begin to negotiate in the EU until the end of 2028.
On November 28, Kobahidze said that some European politicians intervene in the internal affairs of Georgia and blackmail Tbilisi with grants. “Taking all this into account, we decided not to raise the question of the start of negotiations with the EU for discussion until the end of 2028,” said the head of the Georgian government.
In protest against the decision of the government, residents of other cities entered the streets.
Georgian media write that after the government’s decision to suspend European integration of Georgian ambassadors in the USA, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Bulgaria and South Korea, they resigned from their posts.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on the introduction of sanctions against 19 representatives of the Georgian authorities, including the Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the leader of the ruling party “Georgian Dream” Bidzina Ivanishvili.
The US State Department also allowed the introduction of additional sanctions against Georgia.