The previous evening, thousands of citizens once again gathered at the Georgian parliament. The Ministry of Internal Affairs almost immediately stated that the protesters «went beyond the legal framework», insult police officers, throw objects at them, and damage city property. The police demanded that they disperse, promising otherwise to disperse them using special means. After some time, the protesters were pushed out of the center with water cannons and tear gas.
Late in the evening, reports appeared of harsh arrests and beatings of rally participants. In the morning, the TV channel Mtavari published a video showing special forces kicking a young man already lying on the sidewalk in the head.
Throughout the night, protesters lit fires, built barricades, launched fireworks towards the police, tried to open the gates of the parliament, and stormed the office of the ruling «Georgian Dream».
President Salome Zourabichvili addressed the police twice during the night, urging them to refrain from using force against citizens. However, this did not yield results, as on the first night, by six in the morning, special forces had dispersed the demonstrators.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reported the detention of 107 people on the night of November 30 for «disobedience to police officers' demands» and «petty hooliganism». Ten police officers were injured.
On the night of November 29, about 20 journalists were injured during the dispersal of protesters. According to the Ministry of Health, ambulance crews took 33 people to hospitals. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported 43 detainees.
On October 29, 130 Georgian diplomats signed a letter against the cancellation of the course towards Eurointegration, published by Georgian Foreign Ministry employee Keti Pruidze. The Ambassador of Georgia to Bulgaria, Otar Berdzenishvili, announced that he would leave his position in protest against the actions of the country's authorities.
Employees of three ministries, along with judges and journalists, made corresponding public statements. Employees of three ministries, along with judges and journalists, made corresponding public statements of disagreement with the authorities' decision, reported Paper Kartuli.
«While maintaining political neutrality, we condemn violence and disassociate ourselves from any decision or step that contradicts the requirements of Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia», — stated more than a dozen judges. «It is precisely European and Euro-Atlantic integration that is the only path to further strengthening security and sovereignty», — wrote 49 employees of the Ministry of Defense. «Yesterday's statement by the authorities does not correspond to the strategic interests of the country and contradicts Article 78 of the Constitution», — stated 190 employees of the Ministry of Education.
Five Georgian universities suspended work in solidarity with the protesters.
Photo: Paper Kartuli