Marking exactly one month since pro-EU protests, thousands of people formed a human chain in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi on Saturday and demanded new parliamentary elections.
The post-Soviet country is in danger after parliamentary elections in October, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party won more than 54% of the vote, according to electoral officials. Many, including President Salome Zourabichvili, claim that the election was stolen.
The ongoing demonstrations began on 28 November after the Georgian Dream administration decided to postpone the opening of EU integration talks for several years.
Hundreds of people have been arrested amid the violent crackdown on protests. Rights groups allege that some of them have been tortured.
Pro-EU protesters hold hands
On Saturday afternoon, thousands of protesters, waving Georgian and EU flags, gathered on the Mtkvari River embankment and several bridges in the capital.
Once assembled, they formed a kilometer-long human chain, dubbed the “Chain of Unity”, as a vehicle lined up while playing the Beatles classic “I Want to Hold Your Hand” through roof-mounted speakers. went with.
The protesters then marched towards their usual meeting place outside Parliament.
Similar events took place throughout Georgia, including in the cities of Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Poti, Samtredia, Rustavi, Gori, Khashuri, Telavi and Gurzani.
Protest leaders accused the ruling party of pulling Georgia back into Russia’s sphere of influence.
He also claims that Georgia’s bid to join the European Union has been undermined by the government. The country’s accession to the European Union is a goal enshrined in the constitution and 80% of the population supports it.
Rally taken out on the eve of swearing in of new President
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili was among those taking part in the human chain.
Zurabishvili has refused to step down as head of state after a 300-person electoral college dominated by Georgian Dream selected a successor more favorable to the ruling party.
Former Manchester City footballer Mikhail Kavelashvili is due to be sworn in on Sunday, but the pro-Western opposition has also dismissed his electoral college victory as “illegitimate”.
On Friday, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chair of Georgian Dream.
According to a statement from the US State and Treasury departments, Ivanishvili was accused of “undermining Georgia’s democratic and Euro-Atlantic future for the benefit of the Russian Federation.”
Sanctions have also been imposed on several other Georgian officials.
Georgia’s richest man, Ivanishvili is widely considered the country’s de facto leader, despite holding no official position.
An EU attempt to impose sanctions on Georgian officials was blocked by Hungary and Slovakia.
mm/dj (AFP, AP)
