A 'Black Friday' in Georgia
01 December 2024
On 28 November, Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party announced a suspension of the country's European accession efforts, rejecting EU budgetary grants in response to a European Parliament resolution. The resolution denounced Georgia's recent parliamentary election as "neither free nor fair" and called for sanctions against top Georgian Dream officials.
Prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared that accession talks with the EU would be off the table until the end of 2028, stating that Georgia would only be ready to open negotiations after then. According to Kobakhidze, the delay is necessary to ensure the country is economically prepared to negotiate with the EU and achieve full membership by 2030. Joining the EU "with dignity, rather than by begging," Kobakhidze emphasised, expressing the Georgian Dream's newfound mantra of "dignity". Opposition party members and the president emphasise that rejecting EU accession now will prevent integration by 2030 and that the Georgian Dream is, in reality, attempting to change the country's course and steer it toward Russia.
The notion of dignity was starkly absent when police and special forces assaulted protesters, journalists, and cameramen at a rally opposing the government's decision to reject EU accession talks. During the 29-30 November demonstrations, 107 protesters were arrested, and approximately 40 journalists were injured. Numerous reports and videos from the scene documented police officers violently assaulting demonstrators, obstructing reporters' cameras, and beating them. Several journalists sustained injuries while trying to carry out their duties.
 | Mariam Kukhilava The Georgian internal affairs ministry described these violent incidents during protest as "very unfortunate", at the same time stating that no police officers would be held accountable. One of the journalists attacked by special forces while reporting on the demonstration, Guram Rogava of Formula TV, revealed that his injuries carried the risk of losing sensation in all four limbs. From the clinic, he posted on social media that after rehabilitation, he will continue fighting to ensure the mission is ultimately accomplished. Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, conditional on implementing democratic reforms. However, the country's leadership has since drawn sharp criticism from the EU for an apparent authoritarian drift. |
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