Thousands of people have gathered in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi for the sixth day. Demonstrators threw fireworks at the headquarters of the Georgian authorities and raised the flags of Georgia and the European Union. The police once again used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters.
Thousands of pro-Europeans protested outside Georgia's parliament on Tuesday against the government, which they accuse of abandoning the country's bid to join the European Union.
Demonstrators took to the streets on Tuesday despite threats from Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze, who accused political opponents and NGOs of trying to seize power and announced that he would prosecute the organizers of the protest.
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Demonstrators threw fireworks at the parliament building and raised the flags of Georgia and the European Union. Police were guarding the building and were inside.
Protests in Georgia DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/PAP/EPA
Salome Zurabishvili, president of the pro-Western republic of Georgia, criticized the service for the “brutal crackdown” of protests, the “disproportionate use of tear gas and water cannons” and “mass arrests and ill-treatment” of protesters.
Dozens were arrested and injured
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia announced on Tuesday that the services arrested 34 people during an anti-government demonstration in Tbilisi on the night from Monday to Tuesday. As a result of the clash between the police and demonstrators, 26 demonstrators were injured. They were given medical assistance, the Ministry of Health informs.
Demonstrations have been going on throughout Georgia since November 28. Demonstrators oppose the policy of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which announced on the same day the termination of negotiations on the country's accession to the European Union until 2028.
Main photo credit: DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/PAP/EPA
