Georgian Prime Minister Calls for Crackdown on Dissent Amid Protests

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has announced a significant crackdown on dissent, accusing demonstrators of attempting to overthrow his government. The remarks come one day after protesters attempted to breach the presidential palace during local elections, clashing with riot police who used pepper spray and water cannons to disperse the crowds. At least five demonstrators, including two members of the United National Movement, the largest opposition party, were arrested, alongside the opera singer and activist Paata Burchuladze. The health ministry reported that 21 security officers and six protesters sustained injuries amid the violence in Tbilisi's city center. The unrest highlights a broader crisis in Georgia, which has faced turmoil since the Georgian Dream (GD) party, led by Kobakhidze, claimed victory in last year's parliamentary election, which the pro-European opposition alleges was riddled with fraud. As talks surrounding the country's potential NATO and EU membership have stalled, tensions continue to rise. Kobakhidze estimated that around 7,000 people attended the opposition rally, but he asserted that their efforts to disrupt the constitutional order had been thwarted, partially due to alleged support from the EU. Arrests have been made, particularly targeting the organizers of the protests, with Kobakhidze emphasizing that the country's main opposition force would not be permitted to participate in Georgian politics any longer. Opposition leaders have called for what they term a 'peaceful revolution' against GD, which they accuse of authoritarianism and pro-Russian sympathies. Thousands of protesters gathered in central Tbilisi, waving Georgian and EU flags, fueled by months of reported heavy-handed tactics against independent media and civil society, and the imprisonment of numerous opponents and activists, including former reformist president Mikheil Saakashvili. Kobakhidze has specifically accused the EU's ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, of meddling in the protests. He stated that Herczyński bears particular responsibility for the unrest and called for him to publicly condemn the situation unfolding on the streets of Tbilisi. In response, the EU diplomatic service dismissed the accusations as disinformation and groundless. The pro-Western opposition has mobilized protests since last October, following controversial elections boycotted by two major opposition parties. Georgia, which aspires for EU accession as enshrined in its constitution, has historically been among the most pro-Western countries in the region, though ties with the West have become increasingly strained following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The GD party, controlled by its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, a wealthy businessman and former prime minister, denies accusations of being pro-Moscow while asserting its commitment to EU membership, aiming to maintain a peaceful stance towards Russia. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2