Georgian protests escalate as police dismantle tent city
The Georgian police have expelled protesters from the area near the state university in Tbilisi and dismantled the tent city, reports Echo of the Caucasus. Early in the morning, the police used tear gas.
According to the portal, special units and water cannons were mobilised on the spot, but "measures of direct coercion were not used." At this moment, it is not known how many people have been detained.
Security forces expelled the protesters
A police representative warned the opposition that they must restore vehicle traffic, which has been blocked since 17th November. In the middle of the night, the police removed tents, artificially created barricades, and parked vehicles from the roadway.
As reported by the Dozhd channel in the morning, in the centre of Tbilisi "the dispersal of protesters is ongoing. The police used tear gas. Several protesters were taken away by ambulances."
On 17 November, protesters demanded new parliamentary elections. Students set up about 30 tents near the State University in Tbilisi. Participants were given blankets, mats, hot tea, and access to portable toilets.
The night from Sunday to Monday passed peacefully. Neither the authorities nor the police issued any statements. On the evening of 18th November, the opposition announced that the protest would continue.
The President of Georgia warns
Georgia's president, Salome Zurabishvili, warned on Monday that the country faces a risk of dual power and destabilisation following the October parliamentary elections. She announced she would challenge the election result in the Constitutional Court.
The portal Echo of the Caucasus wrote that Zurabishvili stated that the parliamentary elections "did not take place" and that there were violations of the principles of secrecy and universality. According to the results, which show the ruling Georgian Dream as the winner, the president will challenge them on Tuesday in the Constitutional Court.
The president warned that Georgia faces destabilisation, dual power, and polarisation. She deemed it necessary to solve systemic problems and then hold new elections. Zurabishvili also spoke in favour of the current government and parliament continuing their work.
According to the constitution, it is the President of Georgia who should convene the first session of the new parliament, reminding the portal Echo of the Caucasus. Nevertheless, the Georgian Dream government announced that the session would take place on the 25th of November, and a new cabinet lineup would be presented to the parliament, according to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
The pro-European opposition, which does not recognise the election results, announced the renunciation of mandates. In a letter sent on Monday to the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, opposition leaders called for the appointment of a special mission to investigate election interference.
source: Echo of the Caucasus / PAP
