Mass pro-EU protests in Georgia escalate

The activists have clashed with police outside the country’s parliament building

Pro-EU protests continued for a third night on Sunday in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, where activists clashed with riot police outside the former Soviet country’s parliament building.

The demonstrations are backed by a coalition of opposition parties, as well as Georgia’s pro-EU president, Salome Zourabichvili, who labelled the current government “illegitimate.” She previously claimed that the October parliamentary election was rigged in favor of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The protesters are outraged by the government’s decision to freeze the negotiations on joining the EU until 2028. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakzhidze said Georgia should ultimately become a member state, but do so on fair terms. He accused the EU of using the accession talks to “blackmail” Georgia and meddle in its politics.