Thousands protest in Tbilisi against decision to suspend EU accession talks
Thousands of people gathered in Georgia's capital Wednesday to express their dissatisfaction with the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union until 2028.
Demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building, demanding the release of those detained during the first week of the protests, which have been ongoing for 14 days.
Many blocked traffic on Shota Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi while waving Georgian and EU flags and carrying anti-government banners.
Some protesters declared that they did not recognize the results of parliamentary elections held on Oct. 26 and called on the government to hold new elections.
Some public sector employees also joined the protests, participating in marches through the capital.
Protests erupted in Georgia after the European Parliament called for new parliamentary elections following the Oct. 26 polls.
Opposition groups and pro-EU protesters took to the streets, resulting in widespread demonstrations.
On Nov. 28, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that in response to European political interference and alleged extortion with EU funds, Georgia would suspend its EU membership negotiations until 2028, although it would continue working toward EU membership by 2030.
The decision sparked outrage, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets of Tbilisi.
Via SyndiGate.info
� Copyright Andolu Ajansi
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
19 minutes ago
- Roya News
Trump drops Ukraine ceasefire demand after Putin summit
Donald Trump on Saturday dropped his push for a ceasefire in Ukraine in favor of pursuing a full peace accord – a major shift announced hours after his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin yielded no clear breakthrough. Prior to the high-stakes meeting in Alaska, securing an immediate cessation of hostilities had been a core demand of Trump and European leaders including Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, who will now hold talks with the US president in Washington on Monday. The shift away from an urgent ceasefire would seem to favor Putin, who has long argued for negotiations on a final peace deal -- a strategy that Ukraine and its European allies have criticized as a way to buy time and press home Russia's battlefield advances. "It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere ceasefire agreement, which often times do not hold up," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the Alaska talks. Before the summit, Trump had warned of "severe consequences" if Moscow did not accept a ceasefire. In a call with European leaders on his flight back to Washington, Trump said the US was prepared to provide security guarantees for Ukraine -- an assurance German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hailed as "significant progress." But there was a scathing assessment of the summit outcome from the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas, who accused Putin of seeking to "drag out negotiations" with no commitment to end the bloodshed. "The harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war any time soon," Kallas said. The New York Times, citing two European officials briefed on Trump's call with European leaders, said the president had expressed support for Putin's proposal for Ukraine to cede territory it controls to Russia in exchange for an eventual ceasefire. Zelensky back in White House The main diplomatic focus now switches to Zelensky's talks with Trump in Washington on Monday. An EU source told AFP that a number of European leaders had also been invited to attend. The Ukrainian president's last visit to the White House in February ended in an extraordinary shouting match, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly berating Zelensky for not showing enough gratitude for US help against Russia. Zelensky said Saturday after a "substantive" conversation with Trump about the Alaska summit that he looked forward to his Washington visit and discussing "all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war." In an interview with Fox News after his sit-down with Putin, Trump had suggested that the onus was now on Zelensky to secure a peace deal as they work towards an eventual trilateral summit with Putin. "It's really up to President Zelensky to get it done," Trump said. "And I would also say the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit, but it's up to President Zelensky." European pressure The leaders of France, Britain and Germany are due to host a video call Sunday for their so-called "coalition of the willing" to discuss the way forward. In an earlier statement, they welcomed the plan for a Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit, but added that they would maintain pressure on Russia in the absence of a ceasefire. "We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia's war economy until there is a just and lasting peace," the statement said. Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine raged on, with Kyiv announcing Saturday that Russia had launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile during the night. Back in Moscow, Putin said his summit talks with Trump had been "timely" and "very useful." "The conversation was very frank, substantive, and, in my opinion, brings us closer to the necessary decisions," he said. In his post-summit statement in Alaska, Putin had warned Ukraine and European countries not to engage in any "behind-the-scenes intrigues" that could disrupt what he called "this emerging progress."
Roya News
8 hours ago
- Roya News
Macklemore backs Palestine solidarity protest in New York City
American rapper Macklemore is set to join a Palestine solidarity protest in New York City this Saturday, August 16, organizers announced. The demonstration will take place at 2 PM (GMT-4) on the steps of the New York Public Library in Bryant Park. The rapper shared the announcement in an Instagram story, amplifying the call for public participation. The protest is being organized by the ANSWER Coalition, which described the gathering as a response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The coalition's statement condemns what it calls the 'US-Israeli blockade of Gaza,' alleging it has triggered a severe hunger crisis responsible for the deaths of Palestinians through starvation and malnutrition. It further criticizes US President Donald Trump, accusing his administration of enabling Israel's 'starvation regime' and of supporting entities that 'weaponize hunger' rather than addressing it. The post also claims that Washington is collaborating with 'Israel' to condition aid on plans for the 'full occupation' of Gaza. Organizers urged people 'from all walks of life' to join the protest, framing it as a crucial step to oppose what they call genocide and the 'US-funded, Israeli famine.'
Roya News
10 hours ago
- Roya News
Denmark: Netanyahu is now a problem in himself
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Saturday described 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'problem,' signaling her intent to push 'Israel' over its ongoing military operations in Gaza while Denmark holds the EU presidency. 'Netanyahu is now a problem in himself,' Frederiksen told Jyllands-Posten, criticizing what she called the 'Israeli' government's actions as 'going too far.' She pointed to the 'absolutely appalling and catastrophic' humanitarian situation in Gaza, as well as new settlement projects in the occupied West Bank. 'We are one of the countries that wants to increase pressure on Israel, but we have not yet obtained the support of EU members,' she added, emphasizing that Copenhagen is exploring a range of measures. Frederiksen said these could include political pressure, sanctions targeting settlers or ministers, or broader restrictions against 'Israel' itself, such as trade or research sanctions. 'We are not ruling anything out in advance. Just as with Russia, we are designing the sanctions to target where we believe they will have the greatest effect,' Frederiksen said. Since October 7, 2023, 'Israel's' assault on Gaza has resulted in over 61,430 Palestinian deaths.
