Police use water cannons to disperse crowds in capital Tbilisi
Nov 29. () –
The President of Georgia, Salomé Zurabishvili, has called on the country’s security forces to refrain from violently breaking up and repressing protesters who are gathering this Friday for the second consecutive day in several cities, including the capital, Tbilisi. , to protest against the Government of Irakli Kobajidze.
“I would like to appeal to the law enforcement authorities. I know the patrol police, they are doing everything they can and we should thank them for this. I want to appeal to the rest (of officers): Don’t raise your hands against young citizens or others, abstain and do your duty. Nothing is happening (…) that requires your participation,” said President Zurabishvili.
The Georgian head of state, opposed to the government of Kobajidze’s Georgian Dream party, made these statements in a speech reported by the local press in which she assured that “it is unprecedented for the citizens of Georgia to leave at the same time and in spontaneous in this way.” Thus, Zurabishvili has insisted on the “extremely peaceful” nature of the marches.
On the other hand, the Georgian president has shared a publication on her official profile on social networks where, accompanied by a video in which the number of attendees at the rally is observed, she has asserted that this is a sign that “no one is willing to accept a “russified” Georgia nor “deprived of its constitution.
This is the second consecutive night that part of the Georgian population takes to the streets of the country’s main cities, especially in the capital, where they have gathered around the Parliament headquarters. The protesters charge against Kobajidze for his decision to abandon “until the end of 2028” the negotiations for accession to the European Union, thus certifying a course similar to Moscow that began months ago with the approval of a law on foreign agents similar to that approved by the Kremlin.
Thursday’s demonstrations culminated in nearly fifty arrests, while several people reported beatings by the Police, including journalists. For the moment, this Friday’s protests are progressing without major altercations, although the Police have already used water cannons to disperse the masses.
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