Civil servants join protests in Tbilisi
The protest in Tbilisi grows with new demonstrators (photo: x.com/AblotiaLucas)
In Tbilisi, public sector workers, including teachers and doctors, protested against the government's postponement of negotiations on Georgia's accession to the European Union, reports Interpressnews and Echo of the Caucasus.
On the evening of December 11, protesters in Tbilisi occupied Rustaveli Avenue, blocking the roadway.
Earlier, public sector workers marched from Republic Square to the Parliament and joined the protest. Demonstrators welcomed the procession of civil servants with applause.
The protests in the Georgian capital have been ongoing for 14 consecutive days. The current night of anti-government actions in Tbilisi is proceeding peacefully.
A new peak of the protest is expected closer to Saturday, December 14, when the election of a new president is scheduled in Parliament.
The previous evening, former television host Gocha Tkeshelashvili once again addressed the crowd. He urged citizens to engage in peaceful resistance. According to him, now more than ever, the people must stand united for the future of the country.
The protesters' demands remain unchanged: to hold repeat elections and release the citizens detained during the protest.
Protests in Georgia
On October 26, parliamentary elections were held in the country, with the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party winning 54% of the vote.
Opposition parties, receiving between 8% and 11%, refused to recognize the results due to allegations of election fraud and launched large-scale protests.
The protests intensified significantly after November 28, when the government formed by Georgian Dream announced it would not initiate negotiations on the country’s accession to the European Union until the end of 2028.
Every evening, tens of thousands of people gather in the center of Tbilisi. Police special forces almost nightly disperse protesters using water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, and carry out mass detentions.
On the evening of December 7, attacks on protesters and journalists by unidentified groups of young men in balaclavas were reported in the city center.
In recent days, however, the protests have been peaceful, with no intervention from the special forces.
