Georgia: Protesters Clash with Police After Govt. Suspends EU Membership Talks

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Facts

  • Protesters clashed with police in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, in the early hours of Friday after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that his government was delaying European Union (EU) accession talks until 2028.[1]
  • Police used water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas to disperse protesters as masked individuals attempted to force their way into parliament, throwing fireworks at officers. According to the interior ministry, at least 43 protesters were detained and three police officers were injured.[2]
  • Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, declared victory in the October parliamentary election. However, the opposition accused the government of manipulating the results. The election has also drawn criticism from the EU, which passed a resolution condemning it as "neither free nor fair" on Thursday.[3][4]
  • Georgian Pres. Salome Zourabichvili has also accused the ruling party of manipulating the election results with the support of Russia. Zourabichvili said the suspension of EU talks was the "conclusion of the constitutional coup that has been unfolding for several weeks."[2][5]
  • Kobakhidze has labeled the EU's election criticism disrespectful, accusing the bloc of trying to blackmail and manipulate Georgia. Kobakhidze stated that Georgia would continue its path toward joining the EU, but the ascension would happen "with dignity" and without an alleged "constant state of blackmail and manipulation."[6]

Sources: [1]Euronews, [2]The Guardian, [3]Associated Press, [4]Agenda, [5]ABC News and [6]Huffington Post.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Euractiv and European Parliament. The EU stands with the freedom-loving people of Georgia. The election on Oct. 26 was characterized by irregularities, and Georgia's ruling party is responsible for the manipulation of the results and for the overall deterioration of democracy in the country. Re-elections in Georgia must take place with urgency and sanctions on the country's corrupt leadership must be imposed.
  • Narrative B, as provided by RT and 1TV. The elections were free and fair. Georgia is a sovereign and independent nation that will not allow outside involvement in its internal affairs, even from the EU. The government remains dedicated to accomplishing the aim of joining the EU while strongly opposing any European meddling in Georgian domestic politics. Furthermore, the opposition must refrain from any attempts to destabilize the country.

Predictions