Europe Thousands demonstrate after Georgia's rejection of the EU

The Georgian leadership's rejection of accession talks with the EU has triggered protests in the South Caucasus republic. In the capital Tbilisi, several thousand people gathered at the parliament building in the city center until late Thursday evening. A large contingent of armed police cordoned off the official buildings. After midnight (local time), the security forces used pepper spray and water cannons. According to television reports, several people were injured and arrests were made.

President Salome Zurabishvili joined the protest. She appealed to the security forces not to take action against the demonstrators. At the same time, she called for a re-run of the parliamentary elections at the end of October, which were overshadowed by allegations of fraud. The ruling Georgian Dream party was officially declared the winner.

Pro-European rallies with hundreds of participants were also reported in the major Georgian cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori and Sugdidi.

Government pulls the plug on talks with the EU

In the afternoon, the national-conservative Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared the accession process halted. He said that Georgia would not negotiate accession with Brussels before the end of 2028 and would not accept any budget subsidies from the EU until then. He saw EU criticism of the increasingly authoritarian course of Georgian Dream as inappropriate pressure on his country.

The former Soviet republic of Georgia was granted EU accession candidate status in December 2023 together with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. However, the relationship has deteriorated rapidly because the ruling party is increasingly critical of Europe and wants to limit alleged foreign influence in the country.

The desired control over civil society is similar to the methods used in Russia. Brussels has therefore also put the rapprochement on ice. The opposition wants to stick to the European course. It accuses the government of only achieving its election victory through manipulation.

SDA