UPD: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze thanked the security forces for dispersing the rally, saying they restored law and order, although he acknowledged the incidents of violence against journalists and promised to investigate these cases, reports the Interpressnews agency. About 20 journalists were injured during the dispersal. According to the Ministry of Health, ambulance crews delivered 33 people to hospitals.
Archbishop Zenon of Dmanisi and Agarak-Tashir appealed to Patriarch Ilia II to support the protesters. «Your Holiness. I ask you to prevent the arrest of the Georgian people, the loss of Georgian statehood, and the attempt of a constitutional coup. Declare support for the head of state, the legitimate president. Declare support for the Georgian people. Prevent the age-old betrayal of the homeland», — wrote the archbishop. According to polls, Patriarch Ilia II has the highest level of trust among public figures. In a 2023 survey, 91% of respondents expressed a positive opinion of him, writes Paper Kartuli.
130 Georgian diplomats signed a letter against the cancellation of the Eurointegration course, published by Georgian Foreign Ministry employee Keti Pruidze. The Georgian ambassador to Bulgaria, Otar Berdzenishvili, announced he would leave his position in protest against the actions of the country's authorities.
After the statement by the new Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze about the suspension of discussions on joining the European Union until 2028 (he was elected by a parliament consisting only of «Georgian Dream» deputies, as opposition parties did not recognize the election results), thousands of people began gathering in Tbilisi and other cities of Georgia.
According to Reuters, several thousand people took to the protests in the capital of Georgia, gathering in several locations, including at the office of the ruling party «Georgian Dream» and in front of the parliament on Rustaveli Avenue. Numerous rallies also took place in Kutaisi and Batumi.
In Tbilisi, the protests quickly escalated into clashes with the police, who pushed the protesters from the central streets all night, using water cannons and tear gas. Demonstrators burned trash bins and wooden chairs, trying to barricade themselves from law enforcement. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the rally went beyond peaceful protest and reported three injured police officers.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also joined the protest, calling the rejection of the European path «the end of a constitutional coup» and «a move from Europe to Russia». She also accused the government of «declaring war on the people».
By morning, all barricades were destroyed, and the fires were extinguished. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports 43 detained at the rallies, with a significant increase in the number of injured police officers — now 32. The agency initiated administrative cases for «minor hooliganism» and «disobedience to police demands». Investigations are also underway on criminal charges of «assault on a police officer» and «property damage».
The media reports dozens of injured. Among those injured were a journalist from the «Publika» publication, several employees of the «Perveli» TV company, and a correspondent reported injured by RIA «Novosti».
According to Mtavari Arkhi, one of the leaders of the «Coalition for Change» Elene Khoshtaria, and a Tbilisi City Hall official Nana Malashkhia were injured — both women suffered fractures and open wounds.
Public opinion polls show that about 80% of Georgians support EU membership, and the bloc's flag flies alongside the national flag on almost all government buildings in the country. The country received candidate status for EU membership last December, but after the adoption of the law on transparency of foreign influence («foreign agent law»), EU representatives stated that Georgia's accession process to the union was effectively halted.