Members of the European Parliament, who arrived in Georgia on Thursday to support opposition forces, visited Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi in the evening, where protests against the government’s policies are taking place.
The seven MPs from various European countries met with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, opposition party leaders, civil society representatives and journalists earlier on Thursday. At the same time, they refused to meet with the Georgian authorities, considering them illegitimate, as the parliamentary elections held at the end of November, according to the deputies, “were not free and fair.”
Zourabichvili said in late November that despite the expiry of her term in office, she was not going to leave the presidency because she considers the current composition of parliament illegitimate.
The appearance of the MEPs on Rustaveli Avenue was greeted by the protesters with wild applause. MEP Rasa Juknevičienė told reporters:
“Holding new parliamentary elections is the only way out of the political crisis in Georgia.”
The Georgian parliament has lifted entry restrictions in the form of a “yellow” security level imposed after the start of protests in Tbilisi since Thursday.
Earlier it became known that at rallies in Georgia will prohibit covering faces with masks and other elements of clothing. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze explained that in this way it will be possible to prevent violence during meetings.
On November 28, the ruling Georgian Dream party decided to suspend discussions with the EU on opening accession talks until 2028. Kobakhidze specified that Georgia will continue to fulfil its obligations under the associated membership and free trade agreement and will fulfil them by 90 per cent by 2028. Immediately after this, mass protests began in Tbilisi, which continue to this day.
