Pro-Europeans block traffic in central Tbilisi on 241st day of protests
Protesters in Tbilisi demanded the release of political prisoners and the resumption of the course towards European integration. The action took place against the backdrop of the opposition's demands that the city mayor apologize for demanding the expulsion of the EU ambassador from Georgia.
As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, on July 25, on the 240th day of continuous protests, activists gathered today at the Tbilisi City Court to support the arrested protester Giorgi Akhobadze. In the evening, supporters of European integration blocked Rustaveli Avenue near the parliament.
Since November 28, 2024, protesters in Tbilisi have been holding daily protests in front of the Georgian Parliament and blocking traffic on Rustaveli Avenue, demanding the release of all arrested supporters of European integration and the appointment of new parliamentary elections.
On the 241st day of the protest, protesters once again gathered in front of the parliament building. Traffic on Rustaveli Avenue has been blocked, Interpressnews reported.
The demands of the protesters remain unchanged: to hold new parliamentary elections and release those detained during the protests.
A protest march under the slogan "Culture for the freedom of the country" has been scheduled for July 27, the publication says.
The police tried to prevent traffic on Rustaveli Avenue from being blocked today, the Tbilisi Life Telegram channel reported.
The rally at the parliament was preceded by a rally at the Bank of Georgia office on Freedom Square. The protesters called on the bank and big business to help those fined and physically injured during the protests, those fired from their jobs for expressing an opposition position, and the media criticizing Georgian Dream, Publika reported.
"If the bank wants to remain a member of the Western, civilized world and continue trading its shares in leading financial institutions such as the London Stock Exchange, it must contribute to supporting our fighters," said one of the protesters, Lika Basilaia-Shavgulidze.
Today, the opposition demanded that Georgian Dream apologize to EU Ambassador Pavel Gerchinsky for the fact that one of its leaders, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, proposed expelling the diplomat from the country.
Thus, the leader of the opposition party Droa, Elene Khoshtaria, said that the party should apologize to the EU. "I want the European Union to know that Kakha Kaladze's statement does not at all reflect the position of the Georgian people, as enshrined in the constitution," the agency "Novosti Gruzia" quoted her as saying.
"I would like to express our unconditional support and solidarity to Mr. Gerchinsky, who plays an extremely important role in lobbying for the European and national interests of the Georgian people," said one of the leaders of "Lelo - Strong Georgia" Grigol Gegelia.
Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia believes that the "Georgian Dream" is deliberately trying to "humiliate allies, damage the image of the EU and isolate Georgia from the democratic world." "Georgian Dream" has become the greatest internal threat to Georgia's European future," the publication says.
This week, Kaladze accused the EU ambassador of disrespecting Georgian statehood, interfering in the country's internal affairs, encouraging public confrontation and extremism. In his opinion, Gerchinsky is engaged in nothing more than "sabotage" and should be "expelled" from the country. Kaladze nevertheless made a reservation, emphasizing that this is his "personal position" and he would do exactly this "if it depended on him."
The reason for such a sharp reaction was Gerchinsky's interview with the InterpressNews agency. In it, the ambassador called on the authorities to stop repression, release those unjustly detained and repeal repressive laws as the only way to resolve the political crisis and return Georgia to the path of European integration. He also reminded that Tbilisi has until the end of August to implement the recommendations of the European Commission. Otherwise, the visa-free regime with the EU may be called into question, the publication states.
"Caucasian Knot" published a report "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protesters in Georgia". The Caucasian Knot collected materials about the parliamentary elections and the protests that followed them on the page "Elections in Georgia-2024".
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