ProjectFearlessnessIn Georgia, it's another day, and another march on parliament. This time it's the parents of disabled people, demanding a European future with European rights for their children.
Who would deny them?
‘Give me back my voice. Give me back my European future.’
'For 21 days,Georgians have peacefully protested against stolen elections and Russian-style repression
Their demand is clear:free & fair elections to preserve democracy. Georgians will not stop until it’s achieved!'
Salome Zourabichvilli
President of Georgia,
European Parliament Address.
In Georgia, riot police at the protests went hungry after a contract for 35,000 packed lunches went unfilled as all Georgian catering firms refused to provide them.
It's the first taste of what mass civil disobedience can do. Georgian chefs have other dishes on their menu.
A couple of days ago, the business association Free Business Georgia issued an open statement calling for new elections and the release of political detainees.
It has now been signed by a 1000 businesses with over 800 signatures waiting to be verified. It has some big international names like PWC, Coca cola, Spar, McDonalds. Yes, even McDonalds in Georgia is calling for new elections.
Georgia is really putting the 'mass' into mass civil disobedience.
In Georgia, the mass civil disobedience against the illegitimate government has gone so mainstream that even the corporate world is jumping on board.
The 2 largest commercial banks in Georgia, TBC and Bank of Georgia, have joined forces to create a fund of 5,000,000 GEL (approximately $1,800,000) to assist those injured during the protests and support small and medium-sized businesses.
Georgian civic society is unstoppable.
"The Georgian Dream party is dragging Georgians away from their chosen path to Euro-Atlantic integration and towards the axis of aggressors intent on undermining the democratic world order.”
“Should Georgian Dream prevail in seizing power, the party would turn Georgia into a venue for power projection and economic opportunity not only for its Russian patrons, but also for China and Iran, with whom Georgian Dream has become increasingly close."
U.S. Helsinki Commission
Helsinki Commission: If GD Prevails in Seizing Power, Georgia Will Turn into Power Projection Venue for Autocrats
On December 18, the U.S. Helsinki Commission stressed that the ruling Georgian Dream party is "dragging Georgians away from their chosen path to Euro-Atlantic integration and towards the axis of aggre
In Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party pride themselves on being the guardians of true Georgian values and culture. They are the only ones who can safeguard Georgian heritage against the radical foreign backed opposition protestors threatening the Georgian way of life.
Of course, it's total bullshit. This is why tomorrow the traditional Khorumi dancers of Georgia are marching on parliament where they will perform this most ancient and beautiful Georgian dance of defiance.
In Georgia, the protests and marches continue, along with the diversity of the protestors . Today's schedule includes the Gurians, fathers, gamers, medics, parents and basketball players.
Also, it's been confirmed the gamers are not doing a virtual march but they're actually leaving the house. It's that important!
Protests outside parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia have been happening every single night for 3 weeks now, and they show no signs of stopping.
They're already making plans for New Year's Eve, and legitimate President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvilli has just announced she will be joining them.
Oh, and keep an eye out for the 29th - it's singles night at the protests. I'm not even joking.
"The UK has sanctioned five senior individuals responsible for violent attacks against journalists and peaceful protestors in Georgia, in coordinated action with the United States.
Georgia’s authorities began a systematic crackdown on demonstrations, civil society, media and opposition figures following public opposition to Georgian Dream’s decision to pause the country’s move towards a European future."
Finally, the U.K. has sanctioned five Georgian officials directly responsible for the violent crackdown on protests. It includes the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Vakhtang Gomelauri - Minister of Internal Affairs
Aleksandre Darakhvelidze - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs
Sulkhan Tamazashvili - Tbilisi Police Department Director
Zviad Kharazishvili - Chief of the Special Tasks Department
Mileri Lagazauri - Deputy Head of the Special Tasks Department
The U.K. government sanctions against Georgian officials is also in coordination with the U.S.
Presumably the U.S. will be sanctioning the same officials, but they haven't yet made their announcement.
In Georgia, protestors have been reclaiming the civic space from the illegitimate government in so many different and creative ways.
Even the New Year's Eve celebrations in Tbilisi have been transformed into a Magical New Year's Eve Protest with legitimate President Salome Zourabichvilli as guest of honour!
Her term ends on 29th December. But that's just according to the government. The people are saying she stays president until new elections happen.
Just in case you're wondering why the Georgians are so certain their government are illegitimate and the last election was rigged, it's because of all the evidence....
The U.S. has issued Magnitsky sanctions against Georgia's Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri and Deputy Head of the Special Task Department, Mirza Kezevadze.
Treasury Sanctions Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs Officials for Brutality Against Protesters, Journalists, and Politicians
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning two Georgian officials from Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs which has engaged in brutal crackdowns on media members, opposition figures, and protesters — including during demonstrations throughout 2024. These officials are being sanctioned under Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 (Global Magnitsky), following the September 16, 2024 sanctions of two other Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs officials. This action was coordinated with the United Kingdom, which today designated five individuals responsible for human rights violations in Georgia.“In the wake of Georgia’s election, key officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs engaged in a severe and vicious crackdown against their own people, including the intentional targeting of journalists and use of violence,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “The United States remains committed to holding accountable those who seek to limit the rights of their citizens and undermine fundamental freedoms — in Georgia and around the world.”georgian officials OVERSEEING PROTEST CRACKDOWNSIn late November 2024, mass protests erupted across the country in response to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement that Georgia would suspend talks on accession to the European Union. Security forces from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Special Task Department responded to protests with disproportionate violence to suppress dissent and discourage protesters. The Special Task Department utilized tactics including mass beatings, verbal abuse, and threats of sexual violence. Police violence by members of the Special Task Department occurred while individuals were in police custody, in detention, and at locations outside the protest area. The Special Task Department also deliberately targeted journalists as they reported on the violence and repeatedly abused detained protesters.During protests prior to the May 2024 passage of the “foreign influence law,” the Special Task Department also violently targeted political opposition leaders, journalists, and youth activists who were peacefully expressing their views. The Special Task Department perpetrated violence, including through brutal beatings of peaceful protesters. The violence perpetrated by the Special Task Department was overseen by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri (Gomelauri), and a Deputy Head of the Special Task Department, Mirza Kezevadze (Kezevadze), in addition to those designated by OFAC on September 16, 2024.Gomelauri and Kezevadze are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being foreign persons who are or have been, leaders or officials of an entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse related to the leader’s or official’s tenure.SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONSAs a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 13818. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. sanctions, including the factors that OFAC generally considers when determining an appropriate response to an apparent violation.In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click hereGLOBAL MAGNITSKYBuilding upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, E.O. 13818 was issued on December 20, 2017, in recognition that the prevalence of human rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States, had reached such scope and gravity as to threaten the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; and undermine economic markets. The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons.Click here for more information on the individuals designated today.###
Somewhere in Georgia there's a poor admin worker trying to keep up with this post from Free Business Georgia. It's a statement from businesses calling for new elections and the end of detaining protestors.
There are about 1500 businesses already signed up, and over 1000 businesses waiting for their signature to be verified. And they just don't stop.
The illegitimate Georgian government has responded to U.S. and U.K. sanctions in typical illegitimate Georgian government style.
The sanctioned Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri has been promoted to Deputy Prime Minister, and the sanctioned heads of the police command have all been given the Award of Honour.
If it sounds like a ludicrous bravado move which the Russians would do, that's because it is.
Sanctioned Interior Minister Appointed as Vice-PM, as MIA Blames Protesters for Violence
On December 20, GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze appointed Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri - an official sanctioned the day earlier by the U.S., as well as by the U.K., Ukraine, Lithuania, Est
Council of Europe head Alain Berset concludes his visit to Georgia.
“I am not here to legitimize elections, that is the responsibility of other competent institutions.The key reason of my visit was to meet with everyone, as dialogue is the cornerstone of any functional democracy.”
Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, has been on a 3 day visit to Georgia.
His visit has gone down really badly with Georgians. While the legitimacy or otherwise of the recent elections is not within his remit, they feel he could have done and said a lot more to criticise the government and their democratic backsliding.
Georgians feel that all his visit has actually done is give legitimacy to an illegitimate government. This was a diplomatic failure.
"Let me say this one more time, louder this time: Georgians have been in the streets since November 28 to repeal the Russian puppet regime, not just the Russian law. End of story."
Anna Gvarishvili,
Georgian journalist.
EU propose visa restrictions on Georgian government officials.
"Today we are taking action to hold Georgian authorities accountable for the violent repression of peaceful protests. This sends a clear message to the Georgian authorities that they cannot repress opposition voices or curtail freedom of expression without consequences."
Kaja Kallas,
EU Foreign Affairs.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_6547
"Georgia's so called PM Kobakhidze now says the state will compensate all financial losses of the U.S. and U.K. sanctioned persons.
This is a defiant, open anti-American & anti-British stance and disregard to human rights, but also an attempt to prevent regime defections in fear of sanctions. Which means that sanctions have a serious potential to work, and we need more of them."
Marika Mikiashvili,
Georgia.
In Georgia, Aleksi Tirkia, the 22-year-old that fell into a coma after a tear gas capsule hit him in the head on one of the first nights of protests in Tbilisi, has been discharged from the hospital.
Apparently, he can't wait to get back to the protests. Georgians are unstoppable.
“I met with the delegation from the Council of Europe, who seem a bit confused and lack a full understanding of the situation here. I clarified that it’s not within their mandate or right to appoint a commission to an illegitimate government, especially not one considering “Russian law”.
From today, Secretary General Alain Berset will gain a clearer picture of the lies and provocations that define Georgian Dream's actions.”
Salome Zourabichvilli,
President of Georgia.
"In our shared spirit of democracy and respect for human rights, we proudly declare: Glory to Ukraine. Long Live Belarus. Georgia belongs in Europe."
Senator Ben Cardin,
Chair,
U.S. Foreign Relations Committee.
Chair Cardin Leads Transatlantic Counterparts in Pledging Continued Support for Ukraine, Belarus’ Democratic Forces, and the Georgian People | United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led leaders of European foreign affairs...
According to this, the 'Deep State' controls not just America but the whole world and only Donald Trump can save us by de-oligarchising everywhere, but he's got a massive fight on his hands and the rest of us in the free world need to support him.
Georgian PM Irakli Khobakidze is either a very confused man or he's just in it for the lols.
Irakli Kobakhidze Snubs US Sanctions by Decorating, Compensating Sanctioned MIA Officials
Georgian Dream's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has announced that 11 senior officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be nominated for the Order of Honor following Mikheil Kavelashvili's
This is Gori, Georgia, a small city close to the Russian occupied territory of South Ossetia.
They're burning an effigy of Putin in protest of, well, everything.
This was brought up in the House of Commons in the U.K. by MP Blair McDougal earlier this week, but hasn't had much attention.
Georgian minigarch Irakli Rukladze is the director of U.K. firm Hunnewell. He runs Georgian propaganda T.V. channel Imedi. He is responsible for the main media arm of the illegitimate, human rights trampling Georgian Dream party.
He does all of this from the comfort of his London home and is also a U.S. citizen.
WTF.
"Georgian Foreign Ministry summoned the British Ambassador to Georgia, Gareth Ward, over the sanctions imposed on December 19 by the United Kingdom on senior Georgian officials for their role in a systematic crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, civil society, the media, and opposition figures.
Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili expressed concern about the sanctions, telling the Ambassador that “such actions damage the friendly relations between the two countries”
OSCE Report on Georgia Elections
“Numerous issues noted in our final report negatively impacted the integrity of these elections and eroded public trust in the process."
"To safeguard the democratic principles currently at stake in Georgia, it is imperative that the authorities urgently address all concerns.”
Eoghan Murphy,
Georgia Mission Head,
OSCE.
Following Georgia’s elections, ODIHR reiterates concerns over pressure on voters and independence of state institutions and calls for concrete action
WARSAW, 20 December 2024 – In its final report on the observation of the 26 October parliamentary elections in Georgia, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) reiterates its earlier findings and conclusions.
What do lawyers, nursery teachers, energy sector workers, international relations students, autistic people, tech workers, and vegans have in common?
Oh, nothing much. That's just the different groups of society that marched on parliament in protest of their illegitimate government in Tbilisi, Georgia, and that's just today.
When I say everybody is protesting in Georgia, I really do mean EVERYBODY is protesting in Georgia.
In Tbilisi, Georgia, Free University and Agricultural University students have blocked the main highway into Tbilisi. They are starting from their university campus and will, eventually, in their own time, be marching to parliament.
This is just one of about 22 protest marches planned for today. And that's just in the capital of Tbilisi.
Today, as well as students, tattoo artists, the fashion industry, traditional folk dancers, and others, representatives of all the different regions of Georgia are marching on parliament in Tbilisi. There are Rachvelians, Kartlelians, Megrelians, Svanetis, Adjarians, Ingaretians, and more.
At this point they're all mixed in and there's no way of knowing where one march ends and another begins. It's just one big glorious mess of Georgians from everywhere, all together.
Traditional Georgian folk dance is old. Older than anyone really knows. Archeologists find 4,000 year old pottery that has depictions of folk dancers on it.
The Khorumi is a special dance. It's a sacred 'warrior' dance that tells the story of armies repelling invaders from Georgia.
And, right now, in 2024, the Khorumi dancers of Georgia are dancing towards parliament in Tbilisi to repel their Russian backed illegitimate government out of Georgia.
Video Mariam Geguchadze.
"Had a good call with Georgia’s President Zourabichvili. In this moment of political crisis, she is the only legitimate leader of the country. I agree with her—the only way forward for Georgia is a new election. The people of Georgia deserve a government that represents them."
Rep. Joe Wilson,
Chair,
U.S. Helsinki Commission
Tbilisi, Georgia is on it's 24th consecutive day of protests. Today there were over 20 separate marches with an estimated 200,000 people. They danced the traditional Georgian folk dance the Khorumi outside parliament and it was magical.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Tbilisi, doing his best to pretend everything is just fine, organized a Christmas concert. Nobody turned up.
Nobody, as in, literally, nobody.
Georgian protestors have taken over the physical civic space in Tbilisi to the point where they can perform traditional Georgian war dance the Khorumi in front of parliament to cheering crowds of hundreds of thousands of people and there is literally fuck all the illegitimate government can do about it.
TC Won't Give In To LiesWhen do they march into Parliament and force resignations - and a new election?
Anything else is theatrics (important but still not solving the problem)
@TCatInReality
Yes, but this is the parliament in Georgia. It has been turned into an impenetrable fortress and there's no way to get inside. The protestors have to play the long game for now.
Yes, but this is the parliament in Georgia. It has been turned into an impenetrable fortress and there's no way to get inside. The protestors have to play the long game for now.
Hmm. Maybe time for siege tactics
@TCatInReality
Maybe, but I'm ok with leaving the tactics to the Georgians, they know best about their country.
Maybe, but I'm ok with leaving the tactics to the Georgians, they know best about their country.