Salome Zurabishvili, the pro-Western president of the country, said that no one agrees with the Russification of Georgia. In the center of Tbilisi and other cities, for the second day, people poured into the streets in protest against the government, which announced the termination of negotiations on the country's membership in the European Union.
In a televised statement, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said the protests that have been ongoing since Thursday are an “unprecedented movement.” – It is clear that no one wants to accept a Russified Georgia, a Georgia without a constitution, or Georgia in the hands of an illegal government and parliament, – the OC Media website quotes the speech of the head of state of Georgia.
– I can say that the resistance movement started today, added Zurbishvili, emphasizing that its goal is to return Georgia to the path of the European Union by rescheduling the parliamentary elections. Neither the head of state nor the Georgian opposition recognize the results of last month's vote, which was officially won by Orzhu, the ruler of Georgia.
ALSO READ: Another day of protests, thick crowd in front of the parliament. Another fight with the police
Zurabishvili called on the anti-riot police to “not raise their hands” against the demonstrators. At the same time, the media of Georgia reports on the injured journalists in the capital. According to the OC Media website, tens of thousands of people gathered in front of the parliament on Friday.
Protest with TbilisiDAVID MDZINARISHVILI/PAP/EPA
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia: Georgia is going straight to the arms of Russia
According to Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, the Georgian government's decision to suspend membership talks with the European Union “exposed what they had warned should Georgian Dream come to power.” – The group is trying to get an alliance with Russia, not with the European Union, by means of lies and intimidation, said Tsakna.
Georgia has been “turning its back on democracy” for a long time, said the head of Estonian diplomacy. He added that the Foreign Agents Act will be approved at the beginning of this year, which will, among other things, restrict civil society and traditional family values.
Protest with Tbilisi DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/PAP/EPA
By suspending negotiations with the European Union, “Georgian Dream” proved that it lied to the people, mainly to its voters, who hoped that the country would become closer to the Community under their rule, Tsakhna said. The head of Estonian diplomacy emphasized that due to the number and severity of violations, the parliamentary elections held a month ago cannot be called free and fair. He added that “80 percent of Georgians want to join the European Union.”
After the European Union suspended the dialogue with Georgia in the summer of this year, the Estonian authorities also reduced the importance of bilateral relations. – Nevertheless, we continue to support Georgian civil society, Tsakhna stressed. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia also asked the authorities of the European Union to take measures regarding the current political situation in Georgia.
Margus Tsakna, together with the ministers of other Baltic countries and Iceland, visited Tiflis in the spring, where he joined the protests of the opposition.
Main photo source: DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/PAP/EPA
