AFP
The party, which has ruled Georgia since 2012, was reportedly founded by a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia. The party is often accused by critics of wanting to bring the country closer to Russia and away from the EU. Ahead of October’s elections, the country has passed legislation targeting independent civil society and restricting LGBTQ rights.
The EU and the United States see this as Georgia’s shift from a pro-Western path to the Russian sphere of influence. Georgian Dream says it is acting to defend the country’s sovereignty against outside interference and prevent it, like Ukraine, from being drawn into a war with Russia.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the opposition of “coordinated violence” aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order.
AFP
Protest in Georgia
On Sunday evening, thousands of protesters gathered again in the capital Tbilisi and some threw fireworks at police, who responded with volleys of water cannon and tear gas. Some protesters stayed away all night, but police eventually ended the standoff by leading them away from the parliament building.
Georgia’s Interior Ministry said 21 police officers were injured during the overnight protest, with 113 injured since the start of the current unrest. Dozens of protesters have also been injured in recent days, and the United States has condemned the excessive use of police force.
AFP
Georgia’s Public Ombudsman said 124 of 156 people arrested during rallies had complained that police used force against them, calling this a “very disturbing number”.
However, more rallies were planned for Monday and strikes and other protests have also begun. Hundreds of diplomats and officials have signed open letters protesting the decision to suspend talks with the EU and stop receiving money from the bloc for four years. At least four Georgian ambassadors have resigned.
AFP
The Russian position
Russia on Monday defended its crackdown on protesters, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying authorities were “taking measures to stabilize the situation,” accusing demonstrators of trying to “foment unrest.”
Russia sees “the most direct parallel” with the Ukrainian “Maidan” protest that ousted a Kremlin-backed leader in 2014 after he suspended talks on closer ties with the EU, Peskov said.