In Tbilisi, Georgia, not even the president herself knows who these people are who are 'policing' the protests. They are not regular police or specialist riot units or armed forces. They have no identifying marks, just tear gas, rubber bullets and brutality.
Also, only in Tbilisi are the protests becoming violent. Elsewhere in the country, where there are just regular police forces, the protests are peaceful events where you can take the whole family.
/112
Last night's protests in Tbilisi, Georgia-
There were even more protestors than previous nights.
The 'police' crackdown started very early, with more water cannons and more tear gas, but overall there were less beatings and much less arrests. This wasn't for lack of trying. They were just outmanoeuvred.
It seems the unidentified and unknown special forces terrorising Tbilisi are human after all.
And they're getting tired.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
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Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, expressed strong support for the Georgian people’s ongoing protests against government violence, drawing parallels to past democratic movements in Eastern Europe. Regarding U.S.-Georgia relations, he clarified that despite claims from Georgian officials, he believes President Donald Trump, a supporter of democracy, “would stand with the people of Georgia, and not with the regime that rigged the elections.”
/115
“The use of unnecessary or disproportionate force against protesters and media workers is extremely worrying."
“All Georgians from across the political spectrum should be able to express their views about the future of their country freely and peacefully.”
Volker Turk,
UN Human Rights Commissioner.
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Joint statement from parties in the Council of Europe on 'The Grave Political Crisis in Georgia.'
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
/117
"Sixty employees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, including its prominent faces, TV presenters Nino Zautashvili and Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, have signed a statement condemning the violent crackdown on protesters and distancing themselves from the Georgian Dream party’s decision to halt the EU membership process until 2028. The document says that the move violates Georgia’s constitutional commitment to European integration."
And, finally, a statement from the U.K. government condemning the police brutality used against protestors in Georgia and the Georgian government's turn away from democratic norms .
At least 5 days late and pretty weak, but welcome all the same.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-statement-on-the-situation-in-georgia
"Constitutional Court of Georgia issued its decision on rejecting appeals by President Zurabishvili and more than 30 former opposition MPs challenging the constitutionality of the October 26 parliamentary elections.
President Salome Zurabishvili had appealed on November 19, alleging violations of the constitutional principles of secrecy of the vote and universal suffrage in the parliamentary elections. The President asked that the final results be declared unconstitutional."
In Georgia, the statements denouncing the violence against protestors and distancing themselves from the government keep on coming. Yesterday it was the medics and the teachers. Today it's the staff at the public broadcaster and the Civil Society Foundation.
It's a drip, drip effect slowly eroding any standing the government ever had. They are losing all support. Soon they will have to rule by brute force alone.
Do they have it in them?
The Russian disinformation on the Georgia protests is something else. No, Russia is not going to invade and no, George Soros is NOT funding all the protestors. Obvs.
In a nutshell, the Georgian people are protesting the recent rigged elections and the government's unconstitutional decision to stop their E.U. membership bid.
Georgians want new elections. That's it. It's not that radical.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
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In Georgia, the Public Broadcaster TV channel has just announced that they will grant protest members airtime every evening as long as the crisis is ongoing.
This follows this mornings' statement from over 60 public broadcaster staff members denouncing the protest violence and the fact the public broadcaster wasn't showing the protest violence.
Maybe this will help their ratings!
"The masks are off. We owe it to those brutally beaten while being arrested to spread the word and show the extent of the violence the Georgian people endure daily.
This is horrifying. It is inhumane."
Elene Kintsarashvili,
Georgia.
"Giorgi Gakharia, the former Minister of Internal Affairs under GD, states that he has legitimate suspicions that those wearing black masks during protest dispersals are not employees of the MIA but belong to informal groups. It has long been reported that US-sanctioned minister Zviad Kharazishvili has informal punitive squads."
Anna Gvarishvili,
Georgian journalist.
"Today, we find ourselves in a situation where a knife has been driven into the constitution, tearing it apart completely"
Georgian President Zourabichvili addressed the nation following the Constitutional Court of Georgia's decision to reject her appeal, along with those of over 30 former opposition MPs, challenging the results of the parliamentary elections.
“Is it me you are afraid of?!”
Illustration by Tamunia Budaghashvili
This illustration is not just a representation, but taken from a video of a real life confrontation in Tbilisi, Georgia 2 nights ago
The latest news is that the lone woman who confronted the row of riot police was arrested and fined €900, the equivalent of 2 months wages in Georgia, and then released. We're still waiting to hear from her directly.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
https://publika.ge/izolatorshi-rcheba-qapecrazmis-kordoni-gaarghvia-ras-yveba-advokati/
The latest news from Georgia is that the government has banned the sales of protective equipment such as gas masks, goggles and helmets.
The Georgian government don't want their people to protect themselves from the tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets the unidentified special forces are using against them.
After 6 days of general disinterest from Western media, The Washington Post, New York Times and the Financial Times have finally sent journalists to cover the protests in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The only problem is the journalists they have sent are all Russians.
You couldn't make it up, but then you don't need to. That's what Russian journalists do.
Medics in Georgia are appealing to the government to let them know which chemicals are being used against protestors so they can diagnose the many people coming to hospital with injuries.
The Georgian government have declined to comment.
"17 former U.S. national security officials and Georgia experts have published an open letter pressing the U.S. government to take measures to respond the fast-evolving crisis in Georgia. The measures include withholding recognition of results of the October 26 Parliamentary elections, sanctioning Bidzina Ivanishvili and his cronies as well as human rights abusers and extending support for President Salome Zourabichvili."
"Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, has announced that no new development cooperation projects with Georgia will be approved or commissioned, and no loan agreements will be signed. This decision follows the recent declaration by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to halt the country’s EU integration process “until 2028.”
Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, has announced that no new development cooperation projects with Georgia will be approved or commissioned, and no l
"To Western tankies sipping latte or conservatives howling for freedom with their guns - great job advocating for a Ukraine scenario to be prevented in Georgia, while pushing for a Belarus scenario instead. That's your "freedom" and "justice."
Marika Mikiashvili,
Georgian Journalist.
Breaking Georgia
Giorgi Gvimradze has stepped down as News Director of the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
Breaking Georgia.
Happening in Georgia now are simultaneous police raids of offices and homes of many different opposition parties and activists and civil society groups.
It's unclear how successful these raids have been, with some leaving immediately after being challenged for the necessary paperwork, and some activists being taken into custody with their phones and laptops confiscated.
In Georgia, Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of Coalition 4 Change was dragged by the police and thrown into a detention car as he was physically assaulted and unconscious. This happened at the party office at Sharashidze Street, Tbilisi, Georgia.
In Georgia, 4 opposition politicians, Gela Khasaia, NikaGvaramia, Vepkho Kasradze, Vaso Kadzelashvili have all been arrested and detained in separate simultaneous raids by Georgian police.
This is Georgia now.
Nika Gvaramia, opposition party politician was assaulted in broad daylight, in the party offices, and carried away unconscious by the police.
It's just one of many raids and arrests happening simultaneously in Georgia after nights of protests.
This is Georgia now.
"Unlike Westerners, we do not interfere in the internal affairs of countries, in this case Georgia."
Maria Zakharova,
Russia Foreign Ministry Spokesperson and Gaslighting Award Winner.
"The belief in Georgia’s nationhood as intrinsically distinct from that of Russia, hatred of Russian imperialism, and spontaneous resistance to those wishing to install tyranny at home seems to run much, much deeper. It cuts across social class, ideological preferences, and age groups, nourishing resistance."
Jaba Devdariani.
"The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on the Georgian authorities to respect human rights, including the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression, following the violent dispersal of protests in Tbilisi. He urged the immediate release of individuals detained for exercising their right to protest peacefully and condemned the use of force against demonstrators and journalists."
In Georgia, women are gathering outside police stations across the country, demanding that the police should keep them safe instead of turning a blind eye to the beatings and detentions carried out by the unidentified security forces at the protests.
(Note: the regular police force are not involved in policing the protests in Georgia, it's left to 'special forces' who are as yet unidentified.)
"My urgent call to our partners and those who want to prevent crisis to go deeper and instability, it is time to put strong pressure on a ruling party that is driving the country over the cliff! Do not be late… !"
Salome Zourabichvilli,
President,
Georgia.
"Georgian Protests has to be renamed Repression in Georgia.
Political leaders dragged by repressive forces, party headquarters object to search and seizure operations, offices of youth protesters are searched…
Prime Minister calls that « prevention »…"
Salome Zourabichvilli,
President,
Georgia.
In Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party are carrying out brutal raids and detentions of opposition party members.
It is partly a reaction to the mass protests that have been shaking Georgia for the last 6 days.
Also, it was a pre-election promise.
When somebody tells you who they are..
"Those (opposition politicians) who are enemies of the people and enemies of the country must be banned.
The mere winning of the elections is not going to be decisive, that is why I say that we need a constitutional majority to ban them and get rid of them."
Bidzina Ivanishvili,
Georgian Dream party chairman,
(speaking shortly before the October 26th elections.)
After a day of raids and detentions of opposition party leaders and activists, protestors are gathering in Tbilisi in just as large numbers as the last 7 nights.
Police are now stopping people in the nearby metro stations to confiscate the gas masks protestors are using to protect themselves against the tear gas the police are using on them night after night.
For shame.
"Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association issued a statement saying that systemic and violent repressions against the civilians should be assessed as the crime against humanity, which can provide grounds for applying to the International Criminal Court.
The watchdog says that “the coordinated repressive measures against thousands of Georgian citizens in various cities became evident during spontaneous protests” starting from November 28th"
U.S. Helsinki Commission calls for immediate sanctions on Georgia.
They're really not holding back on their words here.
"The de-facto Georgian government has shed all pretense of democracy and has now started arresting innocent activists and peaceful members of the opposition in their homes and places of work. Make no mistake: Georgian Dream is using Kremlin-style dictatorial tactics."
Joe Wilson,
U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman.
Ukraine President Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine plans to sanction the Georgian government, which is “pushing the country into obvious dependence on Russia.”
"What is happening in Georgia is not only a problem of one nation and not only of our region. It is simply shameful what they are doing to their own people. And when Moscow praises this government in Georgia, it clearly shows for whom they are working in Tbilisi and for whom they are dispersing the protests. Definitely not for Georgia.”
In Georgia, Irakli Shaishmelashvili, the head of the Operative Planning Unit of the Special Tasks Department that is responsible for the violent crackdowns (Zviad Kharazishvili AKA “Khareba” squad) resigns.
In Georgia, Mtavari TV have just published a list of names from an anonymous Ministry of Internal Affairs source.
They are names of all the previously unidentified 'special forces' who have been brutally repressing protestors in Tbilisi for the last week.
This could get dangerous. For the secret hit squad, obviously. Some of the protestors are already in prison. Or comas.
"The US stands in solidarity with the Georgian people and their democratic aspirations. Those who undermine democratic processes or institutions in Georga –including those who suppress Georgian citizens’ right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression–will be held to account.
In addition to continuing our previously announced comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation, the US is now preparing to use the tools at our disposal, including additional sanctions."
Yesterday in Georgia there was a brutal crackdown on opposition parties and activists, with several arrests of key.
This was followed by a night of protests, the biggest yet. Somehow, the expected violent confrontations with the special forces just didn't happen. It was a calm night, the first in a week.
Something has changed in Georgia....
In Georgia, Irakli Shaishmelashvili, the head of the Operative Planning Unit of the Special Tasks Department that is responsible for the violent crackdowns resigned last night.
That's confirmed. There are reports of dozens of other resignations from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but none of these have been confirmed yet. Today could be the day.
All eyes on Georgia.
"We cannot afford to lose anyone in this region—not Georgia, not Moldova, not Ukraine. We must stand together to defend against Moscow. Ukraine has imposed sanctions on Ivanishvili and his associates—19 individuals who are selling out the interests of Georgia and its people.
We urge Europe, America, and the entire world to do the same—to act decisively and with principle."
President Zelenskyy,
Ukraine.
"I could not say it better. Thank you Volodymyr !
Russia is trying to get back the control over the Black Sea !"
Salome Zourabichvilli,
President of Georgia,
(Response to Ukraine's sanctions against the ruling Georgian Dream party)
🔥Georgian Facebook is on Fire!🔥
A list of names of the secret special forces brutalizing protestors was published last night, and now friends and relatives are publically calling them out.
This might explain why the response to the massive protests last night was so quiet. The 'special' forces were too busy furiously deleting their Facebook accounts and getting told off by their mums!
Whoever leaked that list knew what they were doing.
Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Ukraine have already issued sanctions against Georgia. America have stated they are drawing up plans.
Meanwhile, in Malta at the OSCE summit today, there's a meeting of foreign ministers from U.K., Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey and others to discuss a concrete plan of action over Georgia.
Not before time.
"Every hero policeman can be proud of what they have done for their country."
Irakli Kobakhidze,
Prime Minister,
Georgia.
Via Publika Georgia
Georgia is a country just over a quarter of the size of the U.K. and has a population of 3.7 million people.
The fact that there are over 40 towns and cities that have been protesting against the government for days is unheard of. Nothing like this has been seen in living memory.
The government may survive for a while yet, but there's no way back for them.
"The Council of Europe adopted a Declaration on the situation in Georgia following the government’s decision to suspend accession negotiations with the EU.
The Declaration “condemns in this regard the violent handling of peaceful demonstrations protesting this decision, and, in line with the call of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, reiterates the need for effective protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms – including freedom of assembly.”
"In a joint statement, MEPs call on the European Union to impose targeted sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvhili and all Georgian Dream leaders responsible for reported election irregularities and the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.
The MEPs single out Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chair of the GD, as being “ultimately politically responsible for the wave of repressions and the suspension of the European integration process.”
Via Jam News, Georgia
Tbilisi’s renowned graffiti artist, Gagosh, shares on Facebook his latest mural in response to the ongoing pro-European protests in the capital. Demonstrators have been using fireworks to counter the police's deployment of water cannons and tear gas.
He accompanies the post with a verse by Byron:
The stars grow jealous as the fireflies soar,
Our borrowed suns—how they crash and roar.
In those fleeting sparks, we see,
The echo of eternity.
In Georgia President Salome Zourabichvili just said that Irakli Kobakhidze should resign and calls for new elections to be held within two weeks in an interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster TV channel.
This wouldn't have happened in Georgia even a few days ago. The government had the public TV channel locked in to show nothing but propaganda.
They're losing their grip.
It's torture in Georgia.
Powerful victims testimonies in the article below speak of brutal and systemic torture of protestors in Georgia by unidentified special forces.
It's not hyperbolic to call it torture. It's the word used by Georgia's public defender, who has begun an investigation.
https://tabula.ge/ge/news/726892-rogor-acama-ivanishvilis-rezhimma-demonstrantebi
In Tbilisi, Georgia, the ruling party just want the protests outside parliament to go away now. The main issue is that the protestors have been outside parliament for the last 8 nights running and they can't put the Christmas tree up.
It's a real problem....
https://tabula.ge/ge/news/726944-tbilservis-jgupis-tkmit-utsnobia-rodis-sad
💥 “I think it would be fair to say that the current illegitimate Georgian government is a Russian puppet government."
Bill Browder.
Saying this, out loud, for the world to hear, at the U S. Senate Foreign Relations committee hearing.
"We think that enough time has passed and enough events have happened for the emotions to go low and for life to return to normal."
Papuashvili,
Speaker,
Georgian Parliament.
Georgian Parliament, last night 👇
Today the French, British and German ambassadors to Georgia met with the Georgian public defenders team to demand an investigation into the violent detentions and inhumane treatment at protests.
The public defender in Georgia has broken with the ruling party and is investigating these cases. He's calling it torture.
Machine translation from image (#AltText):
To the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Police Lieutenant General Vakhtang Gomelauri
Patak
I request that due to family circumstances, I be relieved of my current position and dismissed from the ranks of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Head of the Operational Planning Division of the Special Tasks Department
Police Colonel Irakli Shaishmelashvili
ProjectFearlessness
Stuart Celarier ❌👑