In Tbilisi a protest against the refusal to negotiate with the EU was dispersed with water cannons and 43 people were detained: the president is waiting for Europe's reaction
Kyiv • UNN
Security forces used special equipment to disperse a thousandth protest near the Georgian parliament after the government refused to negotiate EU membership. 43 people were detained and dozens of people were injured, including 32 policemen.
In Tbilisi, in the early morning, a protest was dispersed, to which thousands of people gathered the night before after the Georgian government refused to negotiate EU membership, water cannons, stun grenades, tear gas and other special equipment were used against the protesters, the Ministry of internal affairs says about the detention of 43 people, 32 injured policemen, while the number of injured demonstrators and journalists is not called, although footage of numerous facts of beating of protesters, in particular journalists and politicians, spread online, News Georgia reports, UNN writes.
Details
Thousands of people spontaneously gathered at Parliament last night after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced his refusal to start negotiations on Georgia's accession to the EU. Until 21 O'clock, the protesters blocked Rustaveli, and then occupied other nearby streets where the service entrances to the parliament are located.
After midnight, special equipment was used against the demonstrators, and the interior ministry said that "the action went beyond peaceful assemblies." By 2 a.m., the dispersal of protesters and mass detentions began.
Water cannons, stun grenades, tear gas and other special equipment were used against the protesters. The security forces completed the cleaning of the territory by 7 am.
The media spread footage of numerous cases of beating up protesters, in particular journalists and politicians.
According to the people's defender of Georgia Levan Yoseliani, the demonstration was peaceful, and because of the actions of the police, freedom of Assembly was violated.
Georgian president Salome Zurabishvili expects a" tough reaction " from European leaders to the forceful dispersal of a protest rally in Tbilisi. " i expect a tough reaction from European capitals," Zurabishvili wrote on her page in the social network X.
The president of the country noted that at the time of writing the post (6:30 Tbilisi time), "protests and repressions were still going on in Rustavel," and "journalists and political leaders are the target.
Earlier, Zurabishvili came to the rally and personally appealed to the special forces, who were preparing to disperse the demonstrators. "Do you serve Russia or Georgia? Who did you take your oath to?"- she told the security forces, urging them to think about the future of their children.
The Georgian Interior Ministry reported 43 people detained during a protest rally on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. all are charged with disobedience to police demands and disorderly conduct - articles 166 and 123 of the code of administrative offenses.
According to the Interior Ministry, demonstrators threw glass bottles, stones, metal objects and pyrotechnics at the police, as well as "damaged infrastructure, road surfaces, video surveillance cameras, set fire to certain objects, erected barricades, and damaged the property of the Tbilisi City Hall." 32 policemen were injured. The number of demonstrators and journalists who needed medical attention is not called.
Criminal cases were also initiated on the facts of violations recorded at the rally - under articles on damage or destruction of things and assault on a police officer.
