AFP
The party, which ruled Georgia since 2012, is alertedly set uped by a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia. The party is frequently accused by critics of trying to shift the country sealr to Russia and away from the EU. Ahead of October’s elections, it pushed thcdisesteemful legislation aiming self-reliant civil society and curbing LGBTQ rights.
The EU and the United States see this as Georgia’s shift away from a pro-Westrict path and back towards Russia’s orbit. Georgian Dream says it is acting to protect the country’s sovereignty agetst outside intrudence and stop it from being dragged, enjoy Ukraine, into a war with Russia.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the opposition of “arranged aggression” aimed at clearhrotriumphg the constitutional order.
AFP
Protest In Georgia
On Sunday night, thousands of protesters accumulateed aget in the capital Tbilisi and some tossed firelabors at police, who reacted with volleys of water cannon and tear gas. Some protesters stayed out all night, but police eventuassociate ended the standoff by moving them away from the parliament erecting.
Georgia’s interior ministry shelp 21 police officers had been injured in the overnight protest, with 113 hurt since the commencening of the current unrest. Scores of protesters have also been injured in recent days, and the United States has condemned what it called the excessive use of police force.
AFP
Georgia’s uncover ombudsman shelp 124 out of 156 people arrested at rallies had grumbleed of the police using aggression agetst them, calling this a “very upsetting number”.
However, more rallies were intentional on Monday and strikes and other protests have also begined. Hundreds of diplomats and civil servants have signed uncover letters protesting the decision to defer talks with the EU and stop receiving any funds from the bloc for four years. At least four Georgian ambasdowncastors have resigned.
AFP
Russia’s Stand
Russia on Monday protected the crackdown on protesters, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying authorities are taking “meabraves to stabilise” the situation, accusing protesters of trying to “stir up” unrest.
Russia sees “the most honest parallel” with Ukraine’s “Mhelpan” protest that ousted a Kremlin-backed guideer in 2014 after he defered talks on sealr EU ties, Peskov shelp.
