Tbilis : Police and protesters brutally clashed in Georgia after the country’s ruling arty suspended negotiations to join the European Union until 2028.
Police used water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas late Thursday to disperse protesters who took to the streets following the announcement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Georgian Dream claimed victory in last month’s parliamentary election that the opposition in the South Caucasus nation dismissed as fraudulent and that has been condemned by European officials. The election on Oct. 26 was widely seen as a referendum on the country’s aspirations to join the European Union and the ruling party had indicated to voters that it would continue to seek membership of the bloc.
The interior ministry said it detained 43 people during the protests.
President Salome Zourabichvili said the government declared “war” on its own people and confronted riot police at the protest, asking them whether they served Russia or Georgia.
The Georgian president, who has a largely ceremonial role, previously said the ruling party rigged the election with the help of Russia, which previously ruled Georgia from Moscow when it was part of the Soviet Union.
