In brief
The protests in Tbilisi, Georgia, have escalated as citizens express their discontent over the government's suspension of EU membership discussions. President Salome Zourabichvili supports the demonstrators, while the Prime Minister maintains a hardline stance against opposition movements.
For a fifth consecutive night, thousands of Georgians gathered outside their parliament in Tbilisi, escalating a political crisis that contrasts the pro-Russian government's stance with a populace eager for closer ties to the West. The unrest stemmed from the governing Georgian Dream party's recent announcement that it would halt discussions on European Union membership until 2028.President Salome Zourabichvili, an advocate for EU integration, has rallied the demonstrators, stating, “We want our European destiny to be returned to us” in an interview with France’s Inter Radio. The protests, which ignited last Thursday in the capital, have now spread to various cities, indicating mounting dissatisfaction with the government’s decision.In a defiant response, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared on Monday that there would be “no negotiations” with those opposing the government or participating in the parliament boycott. He accused the protests of being “funded from abroad,” emphasizing his stance that Georgia would not undergo a revolution.
