Tbilisi (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Sunday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that protesters aiming to storm the presidential palace were attempting to overthrow the government and accused the European Union of interfering in Georgian politics.
A day earlier, on Saturday, shortly before polls closed, a group of demonstrators attempted to force entry to the presidential palace in the capital, Tbilisi, following Georgian riot police employing pepper spray and water cannons to disperse demonstrators from the presidential palace and detained five activists amid a large opposition protest during local elections.
Kobakhidze stated that up to 7,000 people attended the rally, but their “attempt to overthrow the constitutional order” failed, despite claims of support from Brussels.
“They moved to action, began the overthrow attempt, it failed, and then they started distancing themselves from it,”
He said.
“No one will escape responsibility. This includes political responsibility.”
Why is Prime Minister Kobakhidze accusing the EU of meddling?
The Georgian prime minister accused EU Ambassador Paweł Herczynski of interfering in Georgian politics and called on him to condemn the protests. “You know that specific people from abroad have even expressed direct support for all this, for the announced attempt to overthrow the constitutional order,” Kobakhidze said.
“In this context, the European Union ambassador to Georgia bears special responsibility. He should come out, distance himself and strictly condemn everything that is happening on the streets of Tbilisi.”
How has the EU reacted to Georgia’s accusations?
In July, the EU’s diplomatic service dismissed what it described as the “disinformation and baseless accusations” from the Georgian authorities regarding the EU’s supposed involvement in Georgia. “Recent statements falsely claiming that the EU seeks to destabilise Georgia, drag it into war or impose so-called ‘non-traditional values,’ constitute a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” it stated in July.
What triggered the attempted storming of Georgia’s palace?
Georgia’s pro-Western opposition has been organising protests since October last year, following the Georgian Dream party’s victory in a parliamentary election they claim was fraudulent.
The Georgian Dream ruling party announced on Saturday that it secured victory in all municipalities throughout the South Caucasus nation of 3.7 million people, despite the election being boycotted by the two largest opposition coalitions.
Just before the polls closed, a group of protesters tried to breach the presidential palace in Tbilisi, following opposition calls for a “peaceful revolution” against GD, which they label as pro-Russian and authoritarian.
A smaller group of protesters marched toward the presidential palace but were pushed back by the police after trying to storm the building. Some protesters then blocked a nearby street, setting fires and confronting riot police.
