Georgia erupts: Thousands protest EU negotiation halt
Thousands of citizens gathered in Tbilisi on Friday, expressing their dissatisfaction with the Georgian government's current actions. The protests were a response to the authorities' decision to halt negotiations on joining the European Union. This is another wave of social discontent in the country, where residents express their aspirations for closer cooperation with the EU.
According to witnesses, there are more protesters than on Thursday, as the Echo of the Caucasus service (a branch of Radio Liberty) reported. Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament is blocked. Many recordings and photos from the scene are already available.
The protest is proceeding peacefully, but special forces and equipment to suppress demonstrations are prepared nearby.
In the night from Thursday to Friday, around 11 PM GMT, officers began to pacify the protest, using, among other things, water cannons and tear gas. According to official data, 43 people were detained, and dozens of protest participants were injured, including about 20 journalists, as reported by the NewsGeorgia portal.
Demonstrations also occur in other Georgian cities, including Batumi and Kutaisi.
