Georgian police use water cannons and pepper spray in Tbilisi as protests against the suspension of EU accession talks continue World News

Violence broke out again in the Georgian capital after demonstrators took to the streets near Parliament over the suspension of EU accession negotiations.

Police used water cannons and pepper spray as thousands gathered in Tbilisi to demand the government change its stance.

Some protesters threw fireworks at police and pushed a burning industrial container toward officers.

There was There were also protests on Thursday after Prime Minister Iraqi Kobakhidze announced that accession negotiations would be postponed to 2028 due to… EU “Blackmail”.

This was followed by the adoption of a European Parliament resolution condemning this election last month as neither free nor fair and criticized the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The party won nearly 54% of the vote, but opponents claim Russia helped rig the vote to halt the country’s westward development.

There were allegations of ballot box stuffing, intimidation and forcing officials to vote for the status quo.

Joining the European Union is overwhelmingly popular GeorgiaAccording to opinion polls, joining the bloc is enshrined in the constitution.

However, the ruling party is accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian and sympathetic towards Moscow.

Hundreds of government employees have signed an open letter saying the freeze on talks was unconstitutional, while business groups have also called on the government to rethink.

President Salome Zourabichvili, who plays a largely ceremonial role, has accused the government of declaring “war” on her people.

In an address to the nation on Friday, the president called on police not to use force against protesters.

Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, but the process was suspended indefinitely in June after the passage of a “foreign influence” law that was seen as an attack on democracy.

The European Union has also called for the election to be repeated under international supervision within a year.

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Prime Minister Kobakhidze said the government would not give in to such demands.

“We will continue our path towards the European Union. However, we will not allow anyone to keep us in a constant state of blackmail and manipulation, which is completely disrespectful to our country and our society,” he said.

“We must clearly show certain European politicians and bureaucrats who have no European values ​​that they must speak to Georgia with dignity, not through blackmail and insults.”