TBILISI, December 4. /TASS/. Several hundred people have gathered for another anti-government rally in front of the parliamentary building in downtown Tbilisi, a TASS correspondent reports.
The protesters are carrying Georgian and EU flags and slogans urging the government to step down.
A couple of hours before the rally, the police searched the offices of opposition parties, uncovering stashes of firecrackers, eggs and laser pointers. The protesters have been using some of these items during their rallies in front of the Georgian parliament. Several opposition activists have been detained during the raids.
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.