Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced yesterday that Georgia would suspend accession talks with the EU until 2028. He said that his government does not renounce the ultimate goal of joining the EU, but argued that Georgia should not bow to “constant blackmail and manipulation.” The EU has refused Georgia’s position of being neutral between the EU and Russia, making membership for Georgia contingent upon being turned into a post-2014 Ukraine. Georgia has forced the foreign funding of operations inside Georgia to be transparent.
President Salome Zourabichvili denounced the government’s action as “an unconstitutional coup” and called on her supporters to “resist.” Her formal position has largely ceremonial powers, but she is the leader of the Russophobic color revolution attempts. Her video address yesterday declared: “No one should dare to suppress today’s protest.” Then, according to Ukrainska Pravda, she herself joined the protesters. Ukrainska Pravda cited “Echo of the Caucasus” to quote her saying: “Today I have addressed the public about who should join us. I stand with the people. Resistance begins now and will not end until new elections are held. I am here with the people and I will be where I can, always.”
Pro-EU protesters clashed with police outside the parliament building in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. Police attempted to disperse the crowd with tear gas and a water cannon. The Interior Ministry said that three policemen were injured and that protesters violated the country’s assembly laws and had thrown “different objects” at the officers.
