Protests in Sakartvel are getting more and more attention from the West – Respublika.lt

Prolonged protest action

Protests have been raging in the country since April 15, but on April 30 and May 1, they became unpredictable. The parliamentary majority approved the law for the second time on May 1. The opposition and the protesters gathered near the parliament demanded the cancellation of the “Russian law”, but when they were not heard, the protests resumed with new force. During the campaign, the demonstrators threw stones, bottles, smoke bombs, and made bonfires at the officers and the parliament building. The officers used tear gas, gas canisters and water cannons.

On the night of May 2, 15 people were hospitalized after clashes between law enforcement and protesters. On the night of Thursday, the unrest spread so much that the parliamentarians decided not to work in the morning. According to the latest reports, the protests are continuing on Friday.

The Sakartvel authorities claim that it is necessary to ensure the transparency of foreign support to the media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Opponents of the law emphasize that the law equates the country’s friends and enemies, sticks labels and stops Sakartvel’s integration into the EU.

EC reaction

The European Commission is carefully and anxiously monitoring the situation in Sakartvel, where the protests that started a couple of days ago are not calming down, assured the head of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen.
“I am anxiously watching the events in Sakartveli and condemning the violence on the streets of Tbilisi,” its publication states.

She also commented on the law on foreign agents, which became the cause of protests.

“Sakartwell has reached a crossroads. It is necessary to choose the path leading to Europe”, emphasized U. von der Leyen.

Josep Borrell, the head of the EU’s foreign affairs and security policy, reacted to the clashes between protesters and officials. According to him, if the scandalous law is adopted, Sakartvel may have difficulties in achieving membership in the European Union.

Tbilisi was angered by Paris’s stance

The statement of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the events that followed the approval of the second law is biased and only encourages the violent actions of certain groups linked to the opposition and financed from abroad, according to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sakartwell.

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 2. wrote on the social network “X” that he was worried about the situation in Sakartvel and spoke out against the violent treatment of protest participants. It was also emphasized that Sakartvel, responding to the wishes of the country’s public, must continue to try to get closer to the EU.

“In Sakartvele, freedom of assembly and expression of opinion is ensured by high standards. Apart from a few unpleasant incidents, the country’s law enforcement officers behaved in accordance with high human rights standards,” assured the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The institution also stated that it did not comment on the rude behavior of French officials towards the participants of the demonstrations held in Paris.

“We remind you that the Sarkartvel government refrained from criticizing France even when the law enforcement used brutal methods against the demonstrators in Paris, contrary to universally accepted human rights standards,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.

Prime Minister’s accusations in the US

Sakartveli Prime Minister I. Kobahidze accused the former US ambassador to the country Kelly C. Degnan of participating in the 2023 tests. make a revolution. He wrote this on his account on the “X” network after a conversation with Derek Chollet, an adviser to the US State Department.

“I spoke with Mr. D. Šole and I expressed my regret for two attempts to organize revolutions in the country in 2020-2023. NGOs funded by foreign sources and the US ambassador contributed to this. If their efforts had been successful, a second front would have been opened in Sakartvel.

I also explained to Mr. D. Šolei, that the false statements of the US State Department related to the law guaranteeing transparency and the rallies remind us of similar false statements in 2020-2023. The statements of the US ambassador, which facilitated the violence of foreign-funded organizations and contributed to the revolutionary process that took place at the time.

I explained to him that in such a situation, the renewal of the relationship will require a lot of effort and it will be impossible without a fair and honest approach.

I didn’t say anything to Mr. G. Šolei for brutally dealing with protesting students in New York”, – concluded I. Kobahidze.

Also, because Washington demanded to stop the consideration of the law on foreign agents, I. Kobahidze canceled his planned visit to the USA.