Tensions rise in Tbilisi: 44 injured in anti-government protests

Among the injured are 27 protesters, 16 police officers, and one journalist. It was noted that these figures do not include those who were injured during the protests but went to hospitals on their own, received assistance on-site, or were detained. This means the actual number of injured could be much higher.

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on Sunday that 50 participants in the anti-government protests in the capital city, Tbilisi, were detained overnight, according to television station Rustavi 2. In total, over 200 people have been detained since Friday.

Since Thursday, anti-government protests have been occurring nightly in front of the parliament in Tbilisi. Demonstrators are opposing the policy of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which announced on that day the suspension of talks on the country's entry into the EU until 2028. During the protests, clashes regularly occur between participants and police, who use water cannons, pepper spray, and stun grenades for pacification.

On 14th December, the head of state is to be selected for the first time by a special college. The ruling Georgian Dream party, accused of distancing the country from democratic standards, holds the majority in it. The inauguration of the new head of state is scheduled for 29th December. GD has announced politician and former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili as their candidate.

The opposition and President Salome Zurabishvili accuse GD of falsifying the parliamentary election results on 26th October. As a sign of protest, opposition politicians did not accept deputy mandates and are demanding a repeat of the elections. As a result, only GD representatives are seated in the new parliament.

The last direct presidential elections in Georgia were held in 2018, and Zurabishvili won them. She was supported by GD at the time, but over time disputes have arisen between them. GD lawmakers have twice tried to remove the president from power.