Protesters near Georgian parliament are being dispersed with water cannons

Stock photo: Getty Images

Security forces used water cannons against the protesters who gathered for a demonstration of thousands near the Georgian parliament to protest against the freezing of Georgia’s progress towards EU membership.

Source: European Pravda citing Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus)

Details: The situation near the Georgian parliament building escalated in the evening. Protesters and police threw bottles, stones and other objects at each other.

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Afterwards, footage emerged of Georgian police using special equipment, including water cannon vehicles, against the demonstrators.

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs in turn said that some protesters in Tbilisi “provoked” law enforcement officers, resulting in one police officer being injured.

Background:

• On Thursday, 28 November, Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party confirmed that Tbilisi would not be negotiating EU membership “until the end of 2028”. His statement came after the European Parliament adopted a resolution not to recognise the outcome of the recent elections. 
• Several Georgian ministries have already criticised this decision.
• President Salome Zourabichvili later stated that the ruling party had declared war on its own people.
• That evening, a large demonstration took place under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi and there were clashes with the police. Protesters were brutally dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. The security forces used physical violence against people, including journalists and their equipment.

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