Mass rallies against the government took place in Tbilisi.
European Commission decision not to grant Georgia status EU candidate countries provoked a rally of thousands in the center of Tbilisi called “Home to Europe”. Protesters demanded the resignation of the Georgian government, issued an ultimatum and gave it a week to end on July 1.
According to Medusa, Georgy Mchedlishvili, a professor of international relations at the European University in Tbilisi, claims that Georgia is ahead Ukraine and Moldova on the level of democratic reforms, but in recent years this process has slowed down and the level of freedom of speech has decreased in the country.
In particular, the European Parliament has already expressed concern about the destructive role of Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili in Georgian politics, who has control over the government and its decisions, including politically motivated persecution of journalists and political opponents. The European Parliament is also deeply concerned about Ivanishvili's personal and business ties with the Kremlin, which determine the position of the current Georgian government on sanctions against Russia.
Last year, the 66-year-old Ivanishvili announced his dismissal from politics, but he continues to influence the country through people entrusted to him. For example, Georgian Foreign Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri was his bodyguard for several years, Health, Labor and Social Protection Minister Zurab Azarashvili was the head of one of the departments at Cartu Bank owned by Ivanishvili, and the country's chief prosecutor, Shalva Tadumadze, was his lawyer. . The current Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, has been mentioned several times as Ivanishvili's official representative in the case of the Swiss bank Suisse Credit, with which the oligarch sued.
“Bidzina Ivanishvili is a Russian oligarch. He made all his property in Russia, and his main goal is to preserve this state, to leave it intact. He understands that the only way to achieve this goal is to stay in Georgia and continue his political course, “said Nodar Rukhadze, one of the founders of the Shame movement.
According to a statement from the European Commission, Georgia needs to be reformed the judiciary, the prosecutor's office and the High Council of Justice, to grant independence to the Anti-Corruption Agency, to carry out “de-oligarchization”, eliminating the influence of capital owners on economic, political and social life; to ensure the safety of journalists and solve some other problems.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilya Darchiashvili said after the statement that the country was hoping for more. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili called the European Commission's decision unfair, and Irakli Kobakhidze, leader of the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party, called the European Commission's decision not expert but political: according to Kobakhidze, he could be affected by Georgia's geographical location. Kobakhidze did not explain what this meant.
Following the European Commission's decision, between 30,000 and 50,000 people gathered near the parliament building in central Tbilisi on the evening of June 20. In their hands they held the flags of Georgia and the European Union. Several activists in the crowd handed out A4-sized posters reading “We are Europe.” The anthem of the European Union was replaced by the anthem of Ukraine, and later the anthem of Georgia. The flags of the EU, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova alternated on the huge screen in the square.
Dozens of people also came to the rally with posters against Ivanishvili, along with an image that often featured a photo of Putin. Among those who came to the center of Tbilisi were several Georgians in T-shirts that read “Russia occupies 20% of my country” and a map of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Among the problems the protesters spoke about was the deteriorating situation with press freedom in Georgia.
At the end of the rally, activists of student and social movements announced the creation of a new movement “Home, to Europe”, which will aim to get the country's authorities to comply with EU requirements. The action ended with a march through the center of Tbilisi from the parliament building to Europe Square. On the way, the crowd chanted two slogans: “Sakartvelos guamarjos!” (“Long live Georgia!”) And “Putin – ***** [murlo]!”.
The decision of the European Parliament on June 23 led to a number of conflicts between politicians inside Georgia and abroad. During his speech in parliament, Prime Minister Garibashvili called the decision of the European Commission Khatia Dekanoidze, a member of the opposition United National Movement, called him a “slave” and a “traitor.” to Brussels and personally asked not to include Georgia in the list of candidate countries for accession to the European Union.
He made the same accusations against David Arahamia, a Ukrainian deputy and head of the Servant of the People faction. The latter rejected the accusations, emphasizing that he was not in Europe.
On June 24, tens of thousands of people came to the Georgian parliament again and made clear demands to the authorities:
resignation Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, through whose actions;
the formation of a new government elected on the basis of popular consensus, which will undertake to implement all 12 clauses of the agreement signed with the mediation of the EU.
Activists took a week to fulfill these conditions. In case of refusal, they promised to hold actions of civil disobedience.
“The rally on June 20 was the largest in the history of Tbilisi. We did not address the government, but the EU. But on June 24, Georgia, unlike Moldova and Ukraine, received a negative response, so that day we demanded the resignation of the government. We do not believe that the government of the Russian oligarch Ivanishvili will carry out all the necessary reforms to join the European Union, “said the movement's co-founder Nodar Rukhadze.
Read also: Georgia and Moldova have not imposed sanctions against Russia. This position should be assessed objectively in terms of their readiness for EU membership – Stefanishina
It will be recalled that at the summit EU leaders unanimously gave Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership . Moldova has acquired a similar status. Georgia will be able to acquire this status after completing certain tasks.
See special topic: Stefanishina's statements about the impossibility of revoking the candidate status are lies and manipulation – Shabunin So the authorities are trying to smooth over their attempts to disrupt the competition for the position of the head of the SAP. Ukrainian authorities are ready to fulfill all conditions for the start of negotiations on the country's accession to the EU – Kuleb Ukrainians should not think that the candidate status will be taken away from us . The United States will continue to support Ukraine on the path to reform – Ambassador Brink The US representative congratulated Ukraine on receiving the status of a candidate for EU membership. We are changing Ukraine for ourselves, not for someone – Zelensky's official statement on the status of a candidate for EU membership The President expects the parliament to adopt the relevant laws, and from government reform roadmap. The Cabinet of Ministers believes that Ukraine can join the EU in 2029 Candidate status should strengthen Kyiv's position in peace talks.
