New Georgian President sworn in; predecessor says he is not legitimate leader
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Mikheil Kavelashvili, a hardline critic of the West, was sworn in as President of Georgia on Sunday amid a political crisis after the government froze European Union application talks in a move that sparked major protests. Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU opponent of the ruling party, said in a defiant speech […]
Georgian parliament bans face masks and fireworks at protests
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Georgia’s parliament passed a law on Friday forbidding protesters to cover their faces and banning fireworks and lasers from demonstrations following clashes between police and civilians at pro-EU protests. The law, which imposes a fine of 2,000 lari ($US720) for offenders, was passed unanimously, the Interpress news agency said. A firework explodes […]
Fireworks light up pro-EU protests in Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Georgia’s capital Tbilisi has resounded with the crackle of fireworks late into the night for the past week – their eruptions becoming a symbol of the large pro-EU protests that have plunged the South Caucasus country into crisis. With riot police using water cannon, tear gas and mass arrests to quell the […]
Young Georgians see homeland at turning point amid pro-EU protests
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Almost every night since pro-EU protests erupted in Georgia last week, young husband-and-wife duo Mamuka Matkava and Gogona Parkaia have been working flat out to feed their fellow demonstrators. Each night the couple, one a musician and the other an artist, spend three to four hours cooking dozens of mchadi, a traditional […]
Georgian opposition leader violently detained by police, his party says
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters The leader of one of Georgia’s four main opposition parties has been detained by police in the capital Tbilisi after being knocked to the ground and falling unconscious, his party said on Wednesday. The opposition Coalition for Change party published a video on X showing Nika Gvaramia, the party’s leader, being carried […]
Georgian rights official condemns use of “torture” against protesters
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Georgia’s public ombudsman accused police on Tuesday of inflicting torture on people arrested during six days of big street protests against the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. Levan Ioseliani, whose role is to defend citizens’ rights, said he and his officials had met people subjected to “the […]
Georgian President seeks West’s support in standoff with her own government
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Georgia’s President, locked in a standoff with her own government, appealed to Western countries on Monday to back what she called a “national movement” in support of Georgia’s integration with the European Union. President Salome Zourabichvili was speaking shortly before protesters and police resumed clashes for the fifth straight night since the […]
Protests in Georgia spread as PM defies US condemnation
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Protesters and police skirmished in Georgia’s capital for a fourth straight night on Sunday and there were signs that opposition was spreading across the country to the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. The country of 3.7 million people has seen months of rising tension between the ruling […]
Many thousands rally to oppose Georgian Government after break with EU
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Many thousands of demonstrators gathered late on Saturday in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, building barricades, breaking windows and setting off fireworks outside parliament, in protest against the government which called off talks to join the EU. Riot police responded by firing water cannon and tear gas into the crowds. Supporters of Georgia’s opposition […]
Police, pro-EU Georgians clash for second night at protests over accession freeze
Tbilisi, Georgia Reuters Police deploying water cannon and pepper spray moved against thousands of pro-European protesters massed in the centre of Tbilisi on Friday after Georgia’s ruling party said it was halting EU accession talks until 2028. EU accession is overwhelmingly popular in Georgia according to opinion polls, and the move saw thousands protest outside […]