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Two Georgia opposition leaders arrested at anti-government protest Two Georgia opposition leaders arrested at anti-government protest
(about 4 hours later)
Nika Melia and Gigi Ugulava detained as thousands try to block highway into Tbilisi amid unrest against ruling partyNika Melia and Gigi Ugulava detained as thousands try to block highway into Tbilisi amid unrest against ruling party
Georgian police have arrested two opposition leaders during a street protest against the ruling party, which has been accused of democratic backsliding and of moving Tbilisi closer to Russia. Georgian police arrested two opposition leaders during a street protest against the ruling party on Sunday, a move quickly denounced by the EU, which condemned Tbilisi’s “brutal crackdown”.
The Black Sea nation has been rocked by daily mass protests since the Georgian Dream party claimed victory in October parliamentary elections whose results the opposition rejected as falsified. The Black Sea nation has been rocked by daily mass protests since the Georgian Dream party claimed victory in October parliamentary elections rejected by the opposition as falsified.
The prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement on 28 November that his cabinet would not pursue the opening of EU membership talks with Brussels until 2028 further fuelled the demonstrations. Its critics accuse the government of democratic backsliding and of moving Tbilisi closer to Russia.
On Sunday police detained the leader of the liberal pro-European Ahali party, Nika Melia, and the former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, a prominent opposition figure. Melia and Ugulava had spent years in prison under Georgian Dream’s rule on charges that rights groups have denounced as politically motivated. Prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement on 28 November that his cabinet would not pursue the opening of EU membership talks with Brussels until 2028 further fuelled the demonstrations.
The arrests were made as thousands of protesters attempted to block a highway entrance to the capital. Several other people were detained during the protest, with at least one appearing to have been injured. On Sunday, police detained the leader of the liberal pro-European Akhali party, Nika Melia, and former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, a prominent opposition figure.
Before the rally, the interior ministry issued a statement warning protesters that blocking the highway was a criminal offence punishable by up to four years in prison. The arrests – condemned by the EU’s top diplomat – were made as thousands of demonstrators attempted to block a highway entrance to the capital, Tbilisi.
In the first wave of protests that began in late November, riot police used teargas and water cannon to disperse the crowds, arresting more than 400 demonstrators, according to the interior ministry. Melia told journalists that a senior police official had kicked him while in the police station.
Georgia’s top human rights official, the ombudsman Levan Ioseliani, and Amnesty International have accused police of torturing those arrested. His lawyer said the politician was “arrested on an administrative offence charge” and released from custody shortly after midnight after signing a written promise to appear in court.
Georgian rights activists have denounced what they say is a mounting campaign of intimidation, beatings and arrests against those taking to the streets. Tbilisi’s security forces and judiciary have faced persistent accusations of repression against the ruling party’s opponents. Both Melia and Ugulava had spent years in prison under Georgian Dream’s rule on charges that rights groups have denounced as politically motivated.
Several other people were also detained during the protest, with at least one appearing to have been injured.
The independent TV station Pirveli aired footage showing police brutally beating detained protesters.
Late on Sunday, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, criticised the arrests.
“The brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, journalists and politicians tonight in Tbilisi is unacceptable,” Kallas wrote on X.
“Georgia falls short of any expectation from a candidate country. The EU stands with the people of Georgia in their fight for freedom and democracy.”
Georgia’s rights ombudsman, Levan Ioseliani, warned of “instances of mistreatment and excessive use of force by the police against citizens, journalists, and politicians”.
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Accused by Brussels and Washington of democratic backsliding and of steering Tbilisi away from its European path, the Georgian Dream government is facing growing international isolation. Georgian rights activists have denounced what they say is a mounting campaign of intimidation, beatings and arrests against those taking to the streets.
Tbilisi’s security forces and judiciary have faced persistent accusations of repression against the ruling party’s opponents.
The Georgian Dream government faces growing international isolation and mounting claims of democratic backsliding.
Last Monday Brussels suspended visa-free travel to the EU for Georgian diplomats and officials, citing the adoption of several repressive laws and the “violent repression by Georgian authorities against peaceful protesters, politicians and independent media”.Last Monday Brussels suspended visa-free travel to the EU for Georgian diplomats and officials, citing the adoption of several repressive laws and the “violent repression by Georgian authorities against peaceful protesters, politicians and independent media”.
Last year the US and several European countries imposed sanctions on Georgian officials, pointing to the government’s drift toward Russia and its violent crackdown on protesters and dissent following the disputed election. The US and several European countries imposed sanctions on Georgian officials last year, pointing to the government’s drift toward Russia and its violent crackdown on protesters and dissent following the disputed election.
Amid the largest anti-government protest movement in its history, Georgia is also grappling with an unprecedented constitutional crisis, as the opposition refuses to enter the newly elected parliament.Amid the largest anti-government protest movement in its history, Georgia is also grappling with an unprecedented constitutional crisis, as the opposition refuses to enter the newly elected parliament.
The pro-western president, Salome Zourabichvili, has declared the legislature and the government illegitimate.The pro-western president, Salome Zourabichvili, has declared the legislature and the government illegitimate.
Her successor, Mikheil Kavelashvili, a ruling party loyalist and far-right politician, was inaugurated on 29 December after a controversial election procedure, but Zourabichvili has said she remains the legitimate leader.Her successor, Mikheil Kavelashvili, a ruling party loyalist and far-right politician, was inaugurated on 29 December after a controversial election procedure, but Zourabichvili has said she remains the legitimate leader.
Last month she attended the inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington and was received by her Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris. Last month she attended the inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington and was received by her French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace in Paris.