Riot police use water cannons and tear gas against demonstrators in Tbilisi

This was reported by SOVA, as seen by Ukrinform.

According to local media, a water cannon was used without the demonstrators being given the necessary warning.

“There have been reports of the use of pepper spray and tear gas. Participants in the rally, in turn, hurled fireworks and various objects at the riot police,” the post says.

As Ukrinform previously reported, Georgian Prime Minister Iraqi Kobakhidze said on November 28 that Georgia was abandoning negotiations to join the EU by 2028.

The statement sparked public outrage and led to protests outside the main office of the Georgian Dream party in Tbilisi on the same day.

Riot police dispersed the demonstrators with water cannons and tear gas. According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, 43 protesters were arrested. At least ten journalists were injured.

The next day, a rally of several thousand people gathered in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi. The police used water cannons. Mariam Gaprindashvili, a journalist for the opposition television channel, was injured.

President Salome Zurabishvili called the government’s decision to suspend the European integration process “a complete halt to a constitutional coup” and called the arrests part of a “Russian toolbox.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the use of force against a peaceful demonstration in Tbilisi and called on the Georgian authorities to respect citizens’ right to peaceful demonstrations and refrain from violence and provocations.

Protests broke out again in several Georgian cities on Saturday.

Photo: Echo of the Caucasus