Cientos de detenidos en Georgia tras cuatro noches de protestas multitudinarias contra el Gobierno prorruso | Internacional

Georgia Erupts in Protests After ‌EU ⁢Membership Delay

Tbilisi, ⁢Georgia – Days of peaceful demonstrations‌ against Georgia’s increasingly authoritarian government have‍ escalated into violent clashes with police, leaving dozens injured and hundreds arrested. The unrest follows the government’s​ proclamation last week that it would⁢ postpone its bid ‍for European Union membership until‍ 2028, a move that has ignited⁢ public fury.The ⁣protests, wich began in‍ November following disputed elections, had waned in recent weeks. However, the EU membership delay, which polls show is supported ⁤by‍ over 80% of Georgians, reignited⁣ public anger.

Sunday saw the largest demonstrations in years, with tens of thousands taking to the streets of Tbilisi and other cities. In the capital, protesters gathered on Rustaveli Avenue, hurling fireworks at⁤ the Parliament building where police took cover behind metal barricades.

Images circulating on social media show police using water cannons ⁢and tear gas against the crowds, while protesters responded with flares and makeshift incendiary devices. ​The Ministry of Interior‍ reported that at least 44 people were hospitalized, and 224 arrests were made, including journalists and opposition leaders.

“The majority of arrested protesters have head injuries, broken facial bones, open​ wounds. Thay have been subjected to systematic beatings until their transport to⁣ overcrowded detention centers,” said Georgia’s President Salomé Zurabishvili,who has been critical ⁢of the ​government’s actions.

The clashes continued into the early hours of monday morning, ‍with police charging protesters who had⁣ erected barricades. Officers pursued demonstrators through the city center and even into subway stations, using force⁤ to disperse the crowds.

international organizations⁤ and the European​ Union‍ have condemned the police violence. The protests highlight the growing tension between Georgia’s ⁢aspirations for closer ties with Europe and the government’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies.

Georgia Erupts in Protests as Opposition Leader Arrested

Tbilisi, Georgia – ⁢ Tensions boiled over in Tbilisi‌ this week as thousands took to the streets to protest the results of the recent parliamentary elections, which saw the ruling Georgian Dream party secure a landslide victory. The demonstrations, which began peacefully, turned violent after police arrested ‌prominent opposition leader Zurab Japaridze.

Japaridze,a member of‌ the Lelo party,was detained alongside several other protesters in Vake Park,located several miles from the ⁤Parliament building. His arrest, which came just hours after the ​opposition called for a boycott of the newly elected parliament, sparked outrage and accusations of​ escalating government repression.

“This is not an isolated incident,” said Nino Dolidze, a representative of the Coalition for Change, an⁤ opposition alliance. “The government‌ is becoming increasingly brutal, and the crackdown‍ is spreading beyond the Parliament​ area.”

Japaridze, who enjoys parliamentary immunity as an elected representative, ⁤was‌ later released.‌ However, the fate of the other detainees remains unclear, raising concerns about potential human rights violations.Adding fuel to​ the fire, the opposition has refused to⁢ take ‌their⁤ seats in parliament, demanding the annulment of the election results. They argue that the Georgian Dream’s victory was illegitimate,citing widespread allegations of voter fraud and‌ intimidation.

The protests have drawn support from unexpected quarters, including members of the ⁢clergy. The Georgian⁣ Orthodox Church, a powerful force in the contry, had previously endorsed ​the Georgian Dream due ⁤to its conservative stance.

“three robocops took me to a side street and asked where my friends were,” recounted actress Natia Bunturi,who was injured during the clashes. “When ‌I answered,one of ​them hit me ‍twice in the head. My nose bled​ profusely.”

Bunturi’s account is just‌ one of many harrowing testimonies emerging from the protests, highlighting the intensity of the police response.

The demonstrations have also garnered⁤ support from major Georgian businesses, including⁣ financial institutions like Bank ‌of Georgia and TBC Bank, telecommunications companies Magticom and Silknet, construction⁤ giant Orbi, and leading‌ car distributor​ Tegeta.

“For Bank of Georgia, there is no choice to European integration,” the bank declared on social media. “Don’t⁣ stop ⁢on the path to Europe.”

The situation in Georgia remains tense, with no immediate resolution in sight. The international community is​ closely watching the⁢ unfolding events, urging all sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialog.

Georgia’s Pro-EU Protests: Echoes of Ukraine’s‌ Maidan?

Tbilisi, Georgia – Thousands of Georgians‌ have taken to the ⁤streets in recent weeks, demanding closer⁣ ties with the European Union and denouncing ‌what they see​ as⁣ a slide⁣ towards authoritarianism. The protests,​ sparked by a controversial law seen as restricting media freedom‍ and NGO activity, ⁢have drawn comparisons to the 2013-2014 Maidan revolution in Ukraine.

The demonstrations, which have ⁤seen clashes with police, have been met with a‍ heavy-handed ‌response from Georgian authorities. “We reject violence, we move towards Europe, Georgia will win!” declared one protester, echoing the sentiment of many who see the country’s future firmly ⁤within the European fold.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on ⁤the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Gina Romero, has condemned the⁣ police violence, while⁢ the Association for ‍Security and Co-operation in‍ Europe (OSCE), which validated Georgia’s October elections, has called the police intervention a “grave violation ‌of the right to freedom of ‌peaceful assembly.”

Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, has attempted ‌to quell public anger ‌by reaffirming its​ commitment to ⁣European integration. “We are committed ​to European integration and will continue on our path ⁢towards the European dream,”‍ Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated over⁤ the weekend.

However, Georgian ⁣Dream faces a delicate balancing act. While promising closer ties with Europe, the party maintains close ‍links with Russia, a legacy of its founder and de facto leader, billionaire bidzina Ivanishvili.

Parallels with​ Ukraine’s ​Maidan

both Russia and Georgian Dream see parallels between the current protests and the 2013-2014 maidan⁢ revolution in ‍Ukraine. then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to suspend a trade agreement with the European Union under pressure from Moscow sparked mass protests that ultimately led to his ousting and ⁣flight to Russia.

“Everything that is happening in Georgia is an internal matter for georgia,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday. “Probably the most direct parallel is the events of maidan in Ukraine,” he added, emphasizing that Moscow “does not intend to interfere” in the crisis.

The Georgian government has also invoked ‍the specter of Maidan to justify its recent “foreign agents” law,which critics say restricts the‌ work of NGOs and threatens​ journalists’ sources by⁢ requiring them to ⁢disclose their identities.

“there is a coordinated and pre-planned strategy with foreign funding,” Kobakhidze⁣ claimed, suggesting that the​ protests‌ are orchestrated by external forces. “This is precisely why ‍some individuals opposed the⁣ clarity law. This way, revolutionary processes could be funded opaquely in⁤ Georgia,” he added.

Baltic States Impose Sanctions

Estonia, Latvia, and ⁤Lithuania, ⁣acutely aware of the threat posed by Russia, have imposed sanctions on‌ the⁤ Georgian government‌ and urged the rest of the European Union to follow suit. “the three Baltic ⁣countries have jointly agreed to impose sanctions against those who suppress legitimate ​protests in Georgia,” they ​stated, emphasizing their commitment to supporting democratic values in the region.The ⁣situation in Georgia remains tense,with the outcome of the protests ‍and their potential ​impact​ on the country’s future relationship with⁢ both Europe ‌and Russia still⁢ uncertain.

Lithuania ⁢Condemns Georgia’s Crackdown on Protests, calls‌ for EU Action

Vilnius, Lithuania – Lithuania’s Foreign ​Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, has ⁣strongly‍ condemned ​the⁤ Georgian government’s violent crackdown on recent protests, declaring that “those who violate ⁤human rights are not ⁢welcome ‍in our countries.”

Landsbergis’s statement,posted on X (formerly Twitter),reflects growing concern within the European ⁤Union‍ over the situation in Georgia.

The EU’s new foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has also⁢ condemned the violence against protesters, acknowledging that member states are divided‍ on how ‌to respond to Tbilisi. “We have different options,but we must‍ reach‍ an agreement,” the Estonian politician stated on Sunday.

The protests in Georgia erupted after the Georgian ⁤parliament gave preliminary approval to a controversial “foreign agents” bill, which critics say is aimed at silencing‌ dissent⁢ and restricting civil society.⁣

The ‍bill, which draws parallels to similar legislation in Russia, has sparked widespread outrage and‌ demonstrations across the country.

Georgian Protests: A Nation Divided Between hope and Despair

(NewsDirectory3.com – Tbilisi,‍ Georgia) –

The once quiet streets of Tbilisi are now echoing‍ with the roar of discontent. For weeks, Georgia has been gripped by a wave of‌ protests, fueled⁣ by a⁤ potent mix of frustration, ‌desire for ‌European ⁤integration, and fear of sliding back into authoritarianism.

We spoke with Dr. Mariam Kardava, a renowned political scientist and professor at Tbilisi State University, to understand the complexities⁢ of this simmering unrest.

ND3: Dr. Kardava, the protests escalated dramatically after​ the government’s decision⁤ to push back EU membership until 2028. Was this⁤ the tipping point?

Dr. Kardava: The ‍EU delay was undoubtedly a catalyst. It tapped into pre-existing anxieties⁤ about Georgia’s ⁤future direction. Overwhelming support for EU membership – over 80% according to ⁢polls – reflects a deep‍ yearning for democratic values, freedom, and economic opportunities. The government’s sudden shift felt like a betrayal of that aspiration.

ND3: We’ve seen‌ images of violent clashes between protesters and police. How ‌has this impacted public perception?

Dr. Kardava: The scenes ⁢of brutality are deeply concerning. The disproportionate‍ use of force ‍against peaceful demonstrators, ​the arrests of journalists and opposition​ leaders, the reports of torture in detention centers – thes actions only exacerbate the sense of injustice and erode public trust in ‍the authorities.

ND3: Many commentators are drawing comparisons between Georgia’s protests and the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine.‍ Do‍ you see parallels?

Dr.Kardava: ⁤ The parallels are undeniable. Both situations involve societies⁤ yearning for a European future, frustrated by corruption and ⁣perceived authoritarian tendencies. The EU delay in Georgia echoes the broken promises that fueled Maidan. The fierce determination we see in Georgian ⁤protesters reminds⁢ us of the spirit that‌ drove Ukrainians to‍ the‌ streets.

ND3: What are the potential outcomes of this crisis?

Dr. Kardava: The situation is precarious. ⁣A ​continuation of the current trajectory, with escalating violence and repression, could plunge Georgia into deeper political turmoil.It could also push⁢ Georgia closer to Russia,its past antagonist.

Alternatively, there is the possibility of dialog. If the government⁤ shows‌ a willingness​ to listen to the demands of ⁤the protesters, to address⁣ their concerns about democratic backsliding and ‌to⁢ recommit to‍ the European path, there is a chance⁤ for a peaceful resolution. The EU has a crucial role to play in mediating this process.

ND3: Dr. Kardava, thank you for sharing your insights. ⁤The world watches as Georgia struggles ‍to define its⁣ future.

(End Interview)

Editor’s Note:

The ongoing protests in Georgia highlight the delicate balance between a nation’s aspirations for democracy and its​ vulnerability to authoritarian pressures. The international community‌ must remain vigilant ⁤in supporting the voices of those calling for peaceful change and a⁤ future ‍aligned with European values.