Dozens Arrested in Georgia Amid Protests Over EU Accession Delay

Georgia has been in turmoil since the increasingly authoritarian ruling party declared victory in October's parliamentary elections that the pro-EU opposition claimed was falsified.

Photo: AP

Police in Georgia detained dozens of protesters during a crackdown overnight and ino early Friday morning, as unrest erupted over the government's decision to postpone European Union accession talks.

The protests and heavy crackdown comes as more than 100 serving Georgian diplomats have signed an open letter criticizing the government's decision to halt its trajectory toward EU membership, The Caspian Post reports, citing DW.

The diplomats said the decision to not pursue EU membership until 2028, announced by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday, violated the country's constitutional commitment to joining the bloc.

The Black Sea nation has been in turmoil since the increasingly authoritarian ruling party declared victory in October's parliamentary elections that the pro-EU opposition claimed was falsified.

The opposition has accused the Georgian Dream of gravitating toward Russia. Thousands of people have taken to the streets since Kobakhidze's announcement. 

On Thursday, the European Parliament also cried foul over the controversial nationwide election that saw Georgia's government secure a hefty majority. The EU parliament passed a resolution calling for the vote to be held again as a result of irregularities.

Amid the unrest, Georgia's Interior Ministry said 32 of its staff had been hurt while "43 individuals were detained by law enforcement for disobeying lawful police orders and for petty hooliganism."