Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has refused to leave office when her term ends next month, citing an “illegitimate” parliament. Protests have erupted for three consecutive nights after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the suspension of talks on EU accession. The prime minister has accused Brussels of “blackmail” and has been building closer ties with Russia.
Zourabichvili, a critic of the governing Georgian Dream party, claims the October 26 election was fraudulent, making the elected parliament illegitimate. She argues that without a legitimate parliament, there can be no new president elected. The country’s election commission confirmed Georgian Dream as the winner, but there are calls for an investigation into potential fraud.
The protests in Tblisi saw clashes between demonstrators and police, with barricades being built and fireworks thrown. The Interior Ministry reported the arrest of 107 people. Kobakhidze warned against a “Maidan scenario” similar to Ukraine in 2014, stating that Georgia is a state that will not permit a revolution.
The US State Department has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia following the decision to halt EU accession talks. The bloc has cited laws against “foreign agents” and LGBTQ rights as reasons for the stall in Georgia’s application to join the EU.
Georgia gained independence from Russia in 1991, and efforts to build closer ties with the country have stalled EU accession. The ongoing political turmoil highlights the divide between pro-EU forces and those seeking closer relations with Russia.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
