Georgia on Monday night saw another, 11th protest action related to the suspension of integration negotiations with the EU by the country’s authorities.
The protesters gathered in front of the parliament building in the capital at around 7.00 p.m. local time, and after 01.30 a.m. they started going home. The action was relatively peaceful, with fireworks attacking the parliament building, rather than police and media personnel, as has happened at previous rallies. Police with special equipment were on duty nearby, on Freedom Square, but did not interfere with what was happening in front of the Parliament.
About 60 cases of theft have been committed in the centre of Tbilisi since November 28 – the date of the beginning of the protest actions, Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze reported at a briefing. According to him, more than 150 law enforcers were injured and more than 400 people were detained as a result of actions of demonstrators during the same period.
According to Mr. Darakhvelidze, the attackers took advantage of the situation and attacked shopping centres, shops, bars, restaurants and supermarkets. As a result, various goods, money, clothes and other items were stolen.
Darakhvelidze also mentioned a robbery attack committed on a Swarovski jewellery shop located near the Parliament building. The deputy head of the Interior Ministry of the Republic added that during the rallies, city infrastructure, private cars and motorbikes, as well as personal belongings of citizens were damaged.
Georgia’s government introduces a law to combat violence
On the eve, December 8, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that the Parliament will adopt a law banning face covering at public events by the end of the year. He said the initiative would “help prevent violence” during gatherings.
A new wave of protests in Georgia began because of the parliament’s decision to suspend the European integration process until 2028. On December 3, the country’s constitutional court rejected a lawsuit filed by Georgian President Salome Zourabishvili and 30 opposition representatives to declare the parliamentary elections unconstitutional.
Since November 28, more than 370 people have been administratively detained and more than 30 people have been brought to criminal responsibility, the Georgian Interior Ministry recalled on Sunday.
