Last news in Fakti

Georgian police arrest opposition leader, tensions rise

The country's largest opposition party announced that one of its leaders was arrested by police as he was leaving the demonstration

Dec 2, 2024 17:03 36

Georgian police arrest opposition leader, tensions rise  - 1

Georgian police today arrested a prominent opposition leader and used a water cannon and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators who protested against the government for the fourth night, reported Reuters.

The protests erupted after the government announced last week that it was ending the country's EU accession talks. Critics say this confirms that, influenced by Russia, Georgia is moving away from the West, a claim the ruling party denies.

The largest opposition party in the country, the United National Movement, announced in "X" that Zurab Japaridze, one of its leaders, was arrested by the police while leaving the demonstration.

The footage shows how masked police officers put Japaridze into an unmarked police car. It is not yet clear if he will be charged.

The US and EU have expressed concern over what they say is a retreat from democracy in Georgia, a country of 3.7 million people that straddles the border between Europe and Asia and was part of the Soviet Union.

Russia denies meddling in the country's internal affairs, but former President Dmitry Medvedev warned yesterday that Georgia was "moving quickly down the Ukrainian path, towards the dark abyss", adding: "Usually things like this end very badly." .

Last night demonstrators gathered again in the center of the capital Tbilisi.

"I am here for one very simple reason - to protect my European future and democracy in my country," said one of the protesters.