“Violence will not remain without consequences”: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemns the violent dispersal of rallies in Georgia

“Violence will not remain without consequences. The Georgian authorities must respect the fundamental right of citizens to peaceful protest. Moreover, the reason for the protests is the government’s decision to put Georgia’s movement towards the EU on hold, contrary to the European aspirations of the Georgian people,” says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry calls on the Georgian authorities to stop scaring their people with the “mythical Ukrainian scenario, while implementing the Belarusian scenario in practice at this time.”

“Ukraine was and remains in favor of democratic transformation in Georgia and its further European and Euro-Atlantic integration, which corresponds to the interests of the Georgian people. In this context, we express our solidarity with our Georgian diplomatic colleagues, who publicly opposed the decision of the Georgian government to withdraw from the EU accession negotiations agenda,” the statement said.

It was noted that Ukraine’s solidarity with the Georgian people remains steadfast.

Earlier, Prime Minister of Georgia Iraklii Kobakhidze stated that the country’s authorities do not allow the scenario of the Ukrainian Maidan. He blamed European politicians and “the agency” for the violence at pro-European protests in Tbilisi.

PHOTO GALLERY: Dispersal of the rally in Tbilisi: dozens of injured demonstrators, journalists and security forces (photo gallery)

Dozens of demonstrators, journalists and security forces were injured on the night of November 29 in Tbilisi. A spontaneous rally took place in the Georgian capital after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s statement on the suspension of EU integration until 2028. The Ministry of Internal Affairs used special means against the participants of the action, including water cannons and pepper spray.

Georgian security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. In recent days, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country, more than 220 citizens have been detained during protests in Tbilisi.

The Ministry of Health previously reported that 44 people were injured during the night from November 30 to December 1. According to authorities, more than 100 people have been arrested in the past three days.