EU warns Georgian authorities of 'consequences' for crackdown on rallies and freezing EU integration
Protests in Georgia (photo: Getty Images)
The European Union has warned the Georgian authorities that the scandalous decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union by 2028 and the violent crackdown on protesters will have “direct consequences.”
This was stated by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
The official noted that the EU supports the aspirations of Georgian citizens for the country's European integration.
“We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future,” Kallas said in her post.
She also condemned the violence by Georgian law enforcement officers during the dispersal of protests in cities, particularly in Tbilisi. And she warned of a reaction from the EU
“We condemn the violence against protesters and regret signals from ruling party not to pursue Georgia's path to EU and democratic backsliding of the county. This will have direct consequences from EU side,” Kallas wrote.
According to her, Brussels may impose sanctions and certain restrictions on the issuance of visas to enter the EU countries on Georgian authorities.
Protests in Georgia
On November 28, mass protests began in Tbilisi after the Georgian Prime Minister announced that the government was abandoning negotiations on the country's accession to the EU by 2028.
Earlier it was reported that the protests in Tbilisi were dispersed by security forces who used smoke bombs, tear gas, and water cannons.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the violent dispersal of protests in Georgia.
On November 30, the US State Department announced that the United States had suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia. This decision was made in response to the government's refusal to negotiate accession to the European Union and the violent dispersal of demonstrators.
Meanwhile, protests against the disruption of European integration have been going on in Georgia for four days. Read RBC-Ukraine's article on the situation there.
