Violence has broken out in Georgia for a fourth night in a row – with fireworks fired at police who hit back with tear gas and water cannon.
The unrest – over the freezing of talks to join the EU – also appears to be spreading beyond the capital Tbilisi.
People turned out again on Sunday evening on central Rustaveli Avenue, some wearing gas masks and others carrying Georgia and EU flags.
“I’m here for a very simple reason, to defend my European future and the democracy of my country,” said protester Nikoloz Miruashvili.
Twenty-seven protesters, 16 police and one media worker were taken to hospital after Saturday night’s clashes, the interior ministry said on Sunday.
The trouble began after Prime Minister Kobakhidze announced talks on joining the EU would be delayed for another three years.
Some people wore masks to protect themselves from tear gas. Pic: AP
He said it was down to “blackmail” from the bloc – but many fear the government is becoming ever more authoritarian and wants to build closer ties with Russia instead of Europe.
The move to pause talks came after the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticising the ruling Georgian Dream party and condemning last month’s election as neither free nor fair.
Opposition parties claim the vote was rigged with the aid of Russia, with allegations of ballot box stuffing, intimidation and civil servants being forced to vote for the status quo.
Fireworks explode in front of the parliament building. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Georgia’s pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, who has a mostly ceremonial role, told Sky News: “They [protesters] saw this election stolen from them and since then, there is no recognition of the legitimacy of the parliament, where no opposition party has entered.
“It’s a one rule parliament, not legitimate, not recognised by our democracy partners.”
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Georgia government ‘not legitimate’
Joining the EU is overwhelmingly popular in Georgia, according to opinion polls, and the aim is enshrined in the constitution.
Protests are also said to be spreading elsewhere in the country of 3.7 million, located on the northeast border of Turkey and the southwestern frontier of Russia, which lies over the Greater Caucasus mountain range.
Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Local news agency Interpress said people had blocked an access road into the main commercial port of Poti on the Black Sea.
Georgian media reported protests in at least eight cities and towns, with TV channel Formula showing people in Khashuri throwing eggs at Georgian Dream’s office and tearing down the party’s flag.
Hundreds of diplomats and civil servants have also signed letters saying freezing talks on joining the EU is unlawful.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze has dismissed criticism by the US, which has said “excessive force” is being used against demonstrators.
The Kremlin has yet to officially comment but Dmitry Medvedev, a Russian ex-president who’s now a security official, said on Telegram that an attempted revolution was taking place.
He said Georgia was “moving rapidly along the Ukrainian path, into the dark abyss. Usually this sort of thing ends very badly”.
Russia launched a war against Georgia in 2008 over two breakaway provinces, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
