ProjectFearlessnessIn Tbilisi, Georgia spontaneous protests are breaking out at the ruling Georgian Dream party's unilateral decision to withdraw from the E.U. membership process today.
"I want to address the police—the true police. The police that serve the state. Without the state, you are nothing. Your duty is to protect the citizens, not slaves, Russians, or traitors. Take into your hands what is yours to decide."
Salome Zurabishvili,
President,
Georgia.
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Earlier today, the E.U. parliament passed a motion questioning the legitimacy of the new government in Georgia and calling for new elections, followed by the ruling Georgian Dream party withdrawing from the E.U. membership.
Following this, spontaneous protests have started across the country, with the outgoing president seemingly calling on the police force to side with the people and not the new government, who she called slaves, Russians and traitors.
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VelteropⓐⓊ🪂🇪🇺🇳🇱🇬🇧🇩🇪@ProjectFearlessness "Slaves"? Or Slavs?
@villavelius
If you're checking the spelling, it's accurate. If you're implying anything else I'm not interested.
If you're checking the spelling, it's accurate. If you're implying anything else I'm not interested.
This is the scene outside parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia right now, with several separate protests now converging in the one place. Other demonstrations are now appearing across Georgia.
The ruling party had been keeping a lid on the unrest following the rigged elections, but today's decision to withdraw from the E.U. membership process seems to be the final straw.
Georgians may now feel they have nothing left to lose.
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"Today marks the end of the constitutional coup unfolding for weeks. The course set months ago, taking us from Europe toward Russia, has now concluded.
Today, this illegitimate government declared not peace, but war—on its own people, past, and future."
Salome Zurabishvili,
President,
Georgia.
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"To everyone at home or who has joined the protests: Do not lose hope!
How events unfold in the coming days will be decided by society-all of us united
No compromise,no surrender-resistance. I will remain loyal to this until the end, just as you will remain loyal until the end."
Salome Zurabishvili,
President,
Georgia.
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In Georgia, the cities of Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Gori, and Telavi are all protesting tonight against the ruling party's decision to withdraw from the E.U. membership process.
While protest in Tbilisi are common, it's very rare to see protests in so many other cities, with all of them happening spontaneously. The E.U. membership decision seems to have really hit a nerve in Georgia.
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Full report on statement made by Salome Zurabishvili, outgoing President of Georgia.
https://civil.ge/archives/638925
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Tbilisi, Georgia.
Having exhausted all political and constitutional means of stopping what she terms an illegitimate parliament, President Salome Zurabishvili has just joined the protestors outside parliament.
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In Tbilisi, Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili has walked through the crowd of protestors outside parliament and is now talking to the special forces in riot gear who are waiting to disperse the crowd with water jets.
She asks them whether they had vowed to protect Georgia and Georgians or Russia, and demands they think of the future of their children!
It's tense.
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Salome Zurabishvili, president of Georgia.
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There's still a tense stand off in Tbilisi, Georgia between protestors and riot police. There have been a few scuffles and some arrests, but the police seem unprepared to deal with the large crowd outside parliament due to its sheer size.
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"Georgia protests. Its time for our EU partners to speak out ! Do not let Russia have a free ride! Georgian people are defending European future and will do so until replay of the elections in a free and fair environment!"
Salome Zurabishvili,
President,
Georgia.
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Water canons are being used on protestors in Tbilisi, Georgia, right now, outside parliament.
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"Georgia has begun efforts to disperse protesters near the Parliament building, with water cannons deployed in an attempt to break up the crowd on Chichinadze Street.
Despite the government’s efforts to disperse the protesters, the crowd on Chichinadze Street only grew larger. As water cannons were deployed, protesters responded by singing the Georgian national anthem, demonstrating their defiance against the law enforcement measures."
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https://frontnews.ge/en/police-use-water-cannons-to-disperse-protesters-near-georgian-parliament/
Police use water cannons to disperse protesters near Georgian Parliament - Front News
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has begun efforts to disperse protesters near the Parliament building, with water cannons deployed in an attempt to break up the crowd on Chichinadze Street. The police operation also involved the use of pepper spray, making it difficult for demonstrators to breathe and intensifying the confrontations. Despite the […]
Police in Tbilisi, Georgia have cleared the area in front of parliament of protestors using water cannons. The water was mixed with pepper spray.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
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Tbilisi, Georgia
"Media reports indicate that members of the Coalition for Change opposition party have been injured – one of its leaders, Elene Khoshtaria, became ill after inhaling tear gas and standing under the water cannon (which reportedly has some gas mixed in), while Boris Chele Kurua suffered a head injury from a rubber bullet."
Via Civil Georgia.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
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In Tbilisi, Georgia, anti government protests continued overnight. Police used excessive and unlawful force, deliberately targeting journalists and opposition politicians.
The mask has slipped on the ruling party. They are looking more Russian by the minute.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
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"Don't bury us so soon, Georgia has been fighting for its European future for decades, even centuries, and has no intention of giving up. Don't give up on us and replace your compassion with solidarity!"
Salome Zourabichvilli,
President,
Georgia.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
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Meanwhile, at a school in Tbilisi, Georgia, students were greeted this morning with this message on the blackboard.
"There is no class today.
The teacher went on strike.
Georgia will never be Russia!"
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
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“I think that all of us have woken up in a completely new reality.”
Pawel Hercynski,
EU Ambassador to Georgia.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
/23
"Unfortunately, what we are seeing in Georgia today is exactly the Ukrainian scenario, but of a different kind. Georgia in November 2024 is a mirror of Ukraine in November 2013.
To those in the streets of Tbilisi: your fight today is about more than being pro-European or pro-Russian; it’s about the fundamental right to live freely. You are a proud nation. Fight and prevail - don’t let them steal your future."
Dmytro Kuleba,
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Ukraine.
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More reports are coming in from Georgia that schools and universities are on strike today. This is Public School No. 186 in Tbilisi.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
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Otar Berdzanishvili, The Georgian Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria has just resigned in protest against the country’s changing foreign policy to the E.U. and the violence towards peaceful protestors by the state in Tbilisi, Georgia.
GreenerFutures@ProjectFearlessness I spent a month in Georgia earlier in the year and only heard people say that they wanted in, not to stay out. Anti Ru sentiment was particularly strong. Even close to the border and occupied zones.
@GreenerFutures
Georgians are very pro E.U. and the ruling Georgian Dream party were promising during the elections to keep going with the membership process. This about turn may be their downfall. Keep an eye on Georgia.
Georgians are very pro E.U. and the ruling Georgian Dream party were promising during the elections to keep going with the membership process. This about turn may be their downfall. Keep an eye on Georgia.
Boris Barbour@ProjectFearlessness @GreenerFutures
You mean they lied? I'm beginning to discern a pattern.
@BorisBarbour @ProjectFearlessness I don’t know but might suspect the Moscow long screwdriver.
cobalt going beige today@ProjectFearlessness Oh oh dear. Perhaps these scenes in the US in coming months, after the righteous but facsist US regime change. Maybe US out of NATO, UN and worse coming. No uplifting and joyful unity on the way. Bleak and dangerous days.