Georgia’s pro-EU President Salome Zourabichvili has condemned “brutal terror and repression” as police use water cannon, tear gas, and arrests to disperse crowds in mass protests. The unrest began after the ruling Georgian Dream party suspended EU accession talks until 2028. More than 400 protesters, including opposition leaders, have been detained and over 100 injured.
The decision comes amid criticism of the election as “neither free nor fair” by the European Parliament. International observers reported instances of violence, bribery, and double voting at the polls. Protests are ongoing in Tbilisi, with demonstrators demanding new, fair elections under Western support.
Critics accuse Georgian Dream of authoritarianism and tilting toward Moscow. The party has pushed through laws curtailing freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. One protester was hospitalized after being hit with a tear gas capsule, and over 50 journalists have been injured in the protests.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/12/07/putin-signs-security-treaty-with-belarus-including-possible-use-of-nuclear-weapons