Following a forceful police response to protests in Georgia, over 40 individuals have been hospitalized. This crackdown received the backing of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
For a fourth consecutive night, tens of thousands demonstrated in Tbilisi, the capital, protesting the ruling Georgian Dream party’s suspension of the country’s 15-year pursuit of European Union membership.
Kobakhidze declared during a briefing, “Any violation of the law will face the full force of the law. Politicians sheltering violent groups will also be held accountable.”
Georgia’s Ministry of Interior reported 44 hospitalizations: 27 protesters, 16 police officers, and one journalist. These injuries resulted from clashes involving water cannons, tear gas, and firecrackers.
Kobakhidze maintained that Georgia’s integration process remains unaffected, stating, “We only rejected shameful blackmail, a significant obstacle to our European integration.”
The government’s decision to halt EU integration followed a European Parliament resolution deeming Georgia’s recent elections neither free nor fair.
Kobakhidze, a Russian-wealthy pro-Putin figure, has faced domestic and international criticism over allegations of election rigging.
Since its 1991 independence from the Soviet Union, Georgia has sought Western support to counter Moscow’s influence, which included a 2008 Russian invasion. However, under the Dream Party, Georgia has increasingly adopted authoritarian policies.
The government asserts these actions protect against foreign interference and war, but critics see them as aligning with Putin’s agenda.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos issued a joint statement condemning the suspension of EU accession talks and expressing deep concern over Georgia’s democratic backsliding.
“This announcement departs from previous Georgian governments’ policies and the European aspirations of most Georgians, as enshrined in the Constitution,” the statement noted.
The EU urged Georgian authorities to uphold freedom of assembly and expression and avoid violence against peaceful protesters, politicians, and journalists.
The U.S. also condemned the violence and argued that suspending EU accession violates Georgia’s constitutional commitment to EU and NATO integration.
“By suspending Georgia’s EU accession process, Georgian Dream has rejected closer ties with Europe and made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin,” the State Department stated.
Kobakhidze dismissed the Biden administration’s criticism, suggesting it was an attempt to leave a difficult legacy for the incoming administration.
“This will not have fundamental significance. We will wait for the new administration and discuss everything with them,” he added.