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Over 100 members of Georgian law enforcement injured in Tbilisi protest rallies

According to the agency, overall, 113 law enforcement officers have been injured with 21 sustaining wounds last night

TBILISI, December 2. /TASS/. More than 100 law enforcement officers have been injured over recent days in protest rallies in Tbilisi, including over 20 last night, the Georgian Interior Ministry said.

According to the agency, overall, 113 law enforcement officers have been injured with 21 sustaining wounds last night. They were provided with medical aid and four of them remain hospitalized, the ministry noted.

"Participants of the rally threw pyrotechnics in the direction of the building of the legislative body. In addition, with stones and various objects, they damaged windows of one of the offices located on the frontal and side facades of the Parliament. Herewith, ignited objects were thrown towards the legislative body, as a result of which a fire broke out in several rooms of the parliament building, which has been extinguished as of now," the Georgian Interior Ministry said in a statement.

A new wave of anti-government rallies began in Georgia on November 28, triggered by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze saying that the ruling Georgian Dream — Democratic Georgia party had decided to postpone any talk about launching EU accession negotiations until late 2028 and decline any funding from the European Union. According to the premier, the decision comes after repeated attempts by the EU to blackmail Georgia with promises of launching the talks in exchange for Tbilisi revoking certain laws passed by the country’s parliament.

Kobakhidze’s statement was followed by protests in downtown Tbilisi. Protest rallies in front of the parliamentary building grew into clashes with the police who used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters.