More than 200 arrested as protests continue in country of Georgia

Violent protests continued through the weekend in the capital of Tbilisi after leaders ended negotiations for European Union membership late last week. More than 20 government employees were injured while clashing with protesters Sunday, bringing the number of government employees injured by protesters to over 100, according to a Monday statement from Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. The government also noted that police arrested 224 demonstrators since the unrest began Thursday night. Violent groups damaged the Parliament building and set fire to other buildings nearby while erecting barricades near downtown, the ministry said. Those demonstrators threw stones, bottles, metal objects, and fireworks at police, according to the ministry.

Authorities warned protesters throughout the weekend that officers would be deployed throughout the city and threatened to retaliate against any form of protest deemed illegal. Footage appeared to show officers using water cannons and pepper spray on protesters while employing aggressive force during arrests. Most of the protesters in custody have extensive head and face wounds from post-detention beatings, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili wrote Monday. The Georgian Trade Unions Confederation and The International Chamber of Commerce released statements slamming the government’s decision to nix accession talks, insisting that EU membership gives Georgia the best future.

How did the international community respond to the mass protests? International bodies criticized Georgia’s aggressive reaction to civilian protests. The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk voiced concern for the recorded violence against protesters and reporters. The right to free expression and assembly must be respected by Georgian authorities, he said in a Monday statement.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller condemned the government's violence against protesters in a Saturday statement, adding that the United States had ended its strategic partnership with the Eastern European country. Rejecting a chance for closer ties to Europe makes Georgia more vulnerable to Russia, Miller said. Georgia must return to the Euro-Atlantic path of transparency and freedom, he added. Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Canada rolled out sanctions against Georgian leaders in a joint press conference on Monday morning.

Why did the government end EU talks? Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze described the current EU membership negotiations as insulting to his country during a Thursday night address. It is unacceptable that some politicians are portraying Georgia’s EU membership as a one-sided act of charity, Kobakhidze said. This eastern European country has a rich culture with great potential and Georgia will pursue EU membership with dignity, he continued. Kobakhidze added that the government would not accept EU grants until at least 2028.

Dig deeper: Read my report from last week for more background on the protests and Georgia’s pursuit of EU membership.