Clashes between pro-EU protesters and police outside the parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia

Violent clashes broke out in front of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi on Saturday night between police and pro-European protesters demonstrating for the third consecutive night against the government’s decision to postpone talks to join the European Union (EU) in 2028.

Riot police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon against protesters, according to an AFP journalist who saw flames behind the window of a building.

The Caucasus country has been rocked by the crisis since the ruling party, Georgian Dream, declared victory in legislative elections in late October.

Both the opposition and the country’s president, pro-European Salome Zurabishvili, claim the elections were fraudulent.

Tensions rose on Thursday when the government, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift, decided to postpone any accession talks with the EU until 2028, although it assured that it intended to do so by 2030.

The country is a candidate to join the Community Bloc from 2023.

The decision prompted the pro-European opposition to call for demonstrations starting Thursday in the capital Tbilisi and other cities in the country, according to the Mtvari television channel.

The Interior Ministry said Friday night’s protests resulted in the arrest of 107 people for “disobedience to police orders” and “acts of vandalism.”

AFP journalists saw riot police again use tear gas and water cannon against protesters, who responded by throwing eggs and lighting fires.

According to police, “ten Interior Ministry employees were injured” in the demonstrations on Friday. According to the same source, 32 officers were injured and 43 protesters were detained on Thursday.

“The resistance movement has begun (…) I stand in solidarity with the protesters”, President Zurabishvili, to whom the constitution grants limited powers, announced on television on Friday.

“We will remain united until Georgia achieves its objectives: returning to the European path and achieving new elections,” he said.

In an interview with AFP, Zurabishvili said this Saturday that he would refuse to resign from his mandate that expires this year unless new legislative elections are held.

“My mandate will continue until new elections are held and the parliament elects a new president according to new rules,” Zurabishvili declared.

From abroad, France, Ukraine and the Council of Europe called for restraint and respect for the right to peaceful demonstration.

Leopoldo López, a Venezuelan opponent in exile, responded on the social network X, saying, “What is happening in Georgia reflects the Venezuelan tragedy: massive stolen elections and an unconstitutional seizure of power.”

“Don’t let Georgia follow the path of Venezuela.” Be with the Georgian people. Now is the time to act,” he said, pointing to Western leaders.

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