In Georgia, the president denounces “Russian repression” with “drugged special forces”

GEORGIA – What is happening in Georgia? For several nights, demonstrations have been taking place in several cities across the country to protest against the government. This ruled out the organization of new legislative elections as demanded by the opposition, and postponed the country's ambitions to join the European Union until 2028.

Tens of thousands of pro-EU demonstrators have been mobilized for four nights. But the mobilization was strongly repressed, arousing the anger of the Georgian president, Salomé Zourabichvili, who denounced a “ Russian repression » with “ drugged special forces ».

Questioned on France Inter this Monday, this former French diplomat declared that these agents received “ amphetamines, or I don't know what we give them, so that their brutality is exacerbated, as well as their resistance “. While the France Inter journalist highlights the numerous arrests and injuries, Salomé Zourabichvili specifies that some demonstrators were arrested in their own homes by the police.

Water cannons and tear gas

Georgia, a former Soviet republic, has been in turmoil since the legislative elections of October 26, won by the ruling Georgian Dream party but denounced as tainted by irregularities by the opposition, which is boycotting the new Parliament. Its opponents denounce a pro-Russian government.

These gatherings in Tbilisi and other cities were repressed by the police, who made more than 150 arrests. Dozens of police officers were injured by projectiles and firecrackers thrown by demonstrators.

At the start of the evening, groups of police, protected by shields, activated water cannons to disperse the crowd, without much success: demonstrators took hands and danced in circles, and a small group stood motionless under a deluge of water, holding a large Georgian flag. Others sent fireworks in the direction of the police officers, impassive behind their protective shields.

At the end of the evening, the riot police intervened in force, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators, some of whom shouted « Fuck Russia ! »erected barricades with trash cans which they set on fire.

Levan Khabeishvili, head of the main opposition party, the United National Movement, told journalists that he had been attacked by around fifteen masked police officers, who tried to arrest him before he managed to flee thanks to other demonstrators.

The president refuses to hand over her mandate

A new vote is being demanded by the opposition parties as well as by the president, who announced that she would refuse to give up her mandate at the end of the year until new legislative elections take place.

“Of course not”replied Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to journalists who asked him if the government, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian drift, would agree to organize new elections.

Hundreds of officials, including from the foreign affairs, defense and education ministries as well as judges, issued joint statements in protest against the government's decision to postpone talks on the country's membership in the EU.

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