In Tbilisi, Georgia, protestors were out on the streets in their tens of thousands for the twelfth night running.
It is freezing out there, so to keep them warm they decided to burn an effigy of Georgian Dream party chairman and billionaire mastermind Bidzina Ivanishvili. He was in a coffin this time.
If it looks a bit voodoo, that's because it is. Ivanishvili is very superstitious...
"The persistent democratic backslide and the recent repressive means used by Georgian authorities have consequences for our bilateral relations. The EU will consider additional measures at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council on 16 December.
The EU stands in solidarity with the Georgian people and their democratic and European aspirations."
E.U. Statement on Georgia.
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/georgia-statement-spokesperson-developments-georgia_en
For nearly two weeks, the Georgian people have been standing up for their democratic and European aspirations, facing brutal, unlawful force from the police while exercising their right to freedom of expression. Arbitrary detentions of protesters and opposition leaders persist, with media representatives specifically targeted by law enforcement authorities and informal violent groups. Over 400 individuals have been detained, and more than 300 have reportedly suffered violence and ill-treatment, many requiring urgent medical care. Disturbing reports from civil society organisations and the Public Defender of Georgia indicate severe and intentional violence, raising credible concerns of torture and inhuman treatment. Despite these reports, so far, no police officers or members of informal violent groups have been held accountable. The EU deplores these repressive actions against protesters, media representatives and opposition leaders and calls for the immediate release of all detained individuals. The EU demands an end to widespread intimidation, political persecution, reported torture and ill-treatment of citizens. Fundamental rights, such as the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, must be respected and safeguarded in line with Georgia's Constitution and international obligations. All allegations of torture and ill-treatment must be credibly investigated. We encourage local and international organisations and the Public Defender to continue documenting the widespread violations of human rights in Georgia. We urge Georgian Dream to de-escalate and put an end to this environment that comes with severe costs for the Georgian people. Violence is not the answer to the protesters’ demands for Georgia’s democratic and European future. We recall that it was Georgian Dream’s course of action that led to the de facto halt of the EU accession process. The persistent democratic backslide and the recent repressive means used by Georgian authorities have consequences for our bilateral relations. The EU will consider additional measures at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council on 16 December. The EU stands in solidarity with the Georgian people and their democratic and European aspirations.
In Georgia, the security services are forecasting that 'local actors directed by special services of foreign powers'' are going to escalate the protests by orchestrating the deaths of 2-3 protestors and blaming the deaths on the government.
They have zero evidence that 'special services of foreign powers' are involved in the violence at protests so far in Georgia.
At least, not on the protestor's side...
Georgian businessman Giorgi Chkheidze, who served as Georgian Dream’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture in 2016-2018, published a letter saying that halting the EU accession was “national treason.”
“A government that puts its own interests ahead of those of its people and opposes the aspirations of its people is doomed and will inevitably be defeated. The more it tries to crush and defeat people, the more severely it will be punished. This is a historical inevitability."
Salome Zourabichvilli, the unstoppable President of Georgia, today gave out medals for civic dedication to journalists and reporters covering the protests in Georgia.
Many journalists have been targeted by the ruling Georgian Dream party with detainment and hospitalisations, so this is a powerful gesture by the President, whose office is the last one not to be captured by the regime.
#GeorgiaProtests
#StandWithGeorgia
https://publika.ge/medlit-samoqalaqo-tavdadebisatvis-prezidentma-mediis-warmomadgenlebi-daajildova/
@Hawaii
The Georgian script is on UNESCO'S Intangible Cultural Heritage list as it's so old and thought to be unique to Georgia.
I'm saying this, but I can't read a word of it and rely on translation software. It's pretty though
ProjectFearlessness
Tofu Musubi