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Large-scale protests have begun in Georgia over the authorities’ refusal to join the EU

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Large-scale protests began in Georgia on the evening of Thursday, November 28. This happened after the country’s government refused to negotiate Georgia’s accession to the European Union. This Komersant ukrainskyi reports with reference to “Ekho Kavkaza”.

Georgia refuses negotiations on accession to the EU

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the government of Georgia decided not to start negotiations on joining the European Union until the end of 2028. In addition, Georgia refuses to receive any budget grants from the EU for this period.

“We have decided not to put on the agenda the issue of opening negotiations with the European Union until the end of 2028. We also refuse any budget grants from the European Union until the end of 2028,” Kobakhidze said.

Protests in Georgia

The government’s decision has caused a significant resonance. Protests are taking place in Tbilisi, where participants call the government’s actions a “betrayal of the country’s interests” and a violation of Article 78 of the Constitution, which enshrines Georgia’s aspirations for European integration.

According to Ekho Kavkaza, spontaneous rallies have gathered near the central office of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the parliament building in Tbilisi. These protests were organized with the help of social networks.

Protesters blocked Rustaveli Avenue during the rallies in Tbilisi.

According to the protesters, Georgia’s refusal to negotiate its accession to the European Union until 2028 is a betrayal of the country’s interests. They also consider it a violation of Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, which enshrines the desire for European integration.

According to the protesters, such actions of the authorities jeopardize the future of Georgia and destroy the long-standing efforts to get closer to Europe.

What Georgia’s President says

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said that today the government has “declared war on the people” and is moving away from Europe towards Russia.

“This day marked the end of the constitutional coup, the movement from Europe towards Russia. Today the illegitimate government has declared war on its people,” the president emphasized.

Salome Zurabishvili held emergency consultations with representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tbilisi and the opposition.

“Today a point was put today in the constitutional coup, which has lasted for weeks or even months. A point was put in the movement from Europe to Russia. If anyone had any doubts, today those doubts have been dispelled,” she said.

Zurabishvili believes that by rejecting European integration “the non-existent, illegitimate government proclaimed not peace but war – to its own people, its own past and its own future.”

“On this path there is no Georgian statehood, no independence and no future without Russia,” Zurabishvili emphasized.

She also drew attention to the fact that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin “expressed his satisfaction and appreciated the Georgian authorities for their obedience” immediately after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s speech.

At the moment, protests are taking place in major Georgian cities. People are taking to the streets in Kutaisi and Batumi, blocking roads. There are reports of clashes with the police.