Von der Leyen on Georgia: door to the EU remains open
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is keeping the door to the European Union open for Georgia despite the government there turning away from its course towards Europe. In a message on Platform X, she regretted the government's decision against the EU and its values. However, the EU stands by the Georgians and their decision for a European future, she wrote with regard to the days of mass protests in the Georgian capital Tbilisi and other cities in the country against the government's pro-Russian course.
01.12.2024, 20:43
SDA
"The door to the EU remains open," emphasized von der Leyen. "Georgia's return to the EU is in the hands of the Georgian leadership."
Thousands of people once again gathered in the city center
Meanwhile, in Tbilisi, thousands of people once again gathered in the city center to continue their protests against the pro-Russian course, while strong police forces once again prepared for their deployment. Violent clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators had previously occurred there for the third night in a row.
According to reports in the Georgian media, officers used water cannons and tear gas, while the demonstrators fired fireworks at the police. It was not until Sunday morning that the uniformed officers succeeded in pushing the protesters away from the parliament building on Rustaveli Prospekt.
The background to the protests is the parliamentary election at the end of October, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud. The electoral commission had declared the ruling Georgian Dream party the winner with around 54 percent of the vote. The opposition did not recognize the results and refused to accept their seats.
The protests were fueled by head of government Irakli Kobakhidze, who declared on Thursday that he would put accession negotiations with the EU, which he accused of interference and blackmail, on hold until 2028. According to surveys, the majority of the population wants to join the EU. Accession is also enshrined as a goal in the constitution.
