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Nordic, Baltic countries voice concerns about elections in Georgia, call for investigations
The Nordic Baltic Eight countries have urged Georgia to hold new elections following disputed parliamentary elections in October and the inauguration of the new president, according to their statement published on Dec. 29.
The countries include Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia.
Georgian anti-Western politician Mikheil Kavelashvili, an ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was inaugurated as the country’s sixth president on Dec. 29 in a move seen as illegitimate by the opposition.
The eight countries expressed concerns over reported irregularities during the elections, violence against peaceful demonstrators, and threats to Georgia’s fifth and previous President Salome Zourabishvili, who disputes the legitimacy of the election results.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze emphasized the need to restore public confidence in Georgia’s democratic institutions and called for implementing OSCE electoral recommendations as a step toward resolving the crisis.
“As long-standing friends of Georgia, and supporters of the European aspirations of the Georgian people, we are alarmed by the country’s path toward deeper polarisation and crisis,” the statement said.
“Georgia urgently needs a way out of the crisis, and to restore public trust in its democratic institutions.”
The statement condemned the use of intimidation and urged the Georgian authorities to take immediate action.
Protests in Georgia, explainedFor the fifth day in a row, Georgians are holding massive protests against their government in the country’s capital, Tbilisi. The brewing dissatisfaction was ignited by the country’s democratic backsliding under the leadership of the pro-Russian, increasingly illiberal government. The final straw…
The Kyiv IndependentElsa Court
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Anti-Western Kavelashvili sworn in as Georgia's president, pro-EU Zourabichvili disputes legitimacy
Georgian anti-Western politician Mikheil Kavelashvili, an ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was inaugurated as the country’s sixth president on Dec. 29 in a move seen as illegitimate by the opposition.
Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, said she would vacate the presidential palace but stressed she remains the only legitimate head of state, pledging to continue the struggle against the ruling party.
Zourabichvili called Kavelashvili’s election a “mockery of democracy” as the former football player was elected as the only candidate on the ballot by the new parliament seen as illegitimate by its opponents.
The inauguration ceremony in the parliament building was attended by oligarch and Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili but not by foreign diplomats, who were not invited due to alleged “lack of space."
Pro-EU Zourabichvili called upon the government’s opponents to gather at the presidential palace to join yet another rally against the Russian-friendly Georgian Dream party. Opposition parties said they would continue to recognize Zourabichvili as the legitimate president.
The most recent waves of protests have been ongoing in the South Caucasus country since Georgian Dream claimed victory in the October parliamentary elections disputed by the opposition and international observers.
Protests in Georgia, explainedFor the fifth day in a row, Georgians are holding massive protests against their government in the country’s capital, Tbilisi. The brewing dissatisfaction was ignited by the country’s democratic backsliding under the leadership of the pro-Russian, increasingly illiberal government. The final straw…The Kyiv IndependentElsa CourtThe government stepped in with riot police and tear gas against the protesters and said that the country’s EU accession process would be suspended at least until 2028 amid Western criticism.
Speaking to citizens gathering at the Orbeliani Palace in Tbilisi, Zourabichvili called the ruling party “locked up, scared, corrupt, illegitimate, unrecognized, subject to sanctions” in an apparent reference to recent U.S. sanctions on Ivanishvili.
Zourabichvili said that her loyalty to the Georgian people does not change based on whether she is inside or outside the presidential palace, adding: “I will leave here with you and will be with you. I take with me legitimacy, the flag, your trust."
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze threatened Zourabichvili ahead of the inauguration by forcibly removing her and placing her in a “correctional facility” if she refused to leave the presidential seat voluntarily.
Georgian Dream, in power since 2012, has been accused of undermining the country’s democracy and dragging it into the Kremlin’s orbit while derailing EU accession efforts.
The ruling-party-backed foreign agents law, compared to similar repressive legislation in Russia, was adopted in May amid widespread criticism from international partners and mass protests at home.
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Belarus Weekly — 2024 in review: Drone incursions, deepening alliance with Russia, totalitarianism
In 2024, Belarus, under dictator Alexander Lukashenko, continued to descend into totalitarianism, imprisoning people at will and providing full-fledged support to Russia in its brutal all-out war.Lukashenko signed a number of bilateral treaties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, helping him facilitate the major East-West prisoner swap that saw spies and murderers return safely to Russia. Lukashenko also reignited a major migrant crisis at the country’s western borders, effectively making it harder for people to leave the state.Here is the round-up of key events that happened in Belarus in 2024.
Source : kyivindependent.com/belarus-w…
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Georgian Protest Under Ru-Propaganda Attack
Georgian Protest Under Ru-Propaganda Attack By Viktoria Odusanvo Georgia’s parliamentary elections have sparked a political crisis, triggering widespread protests in the streets of Tbilisi. These demo Source : uacrisis.org/en/georgi…
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How Russia's Interference is Ruining Europe's Future: Protests and Election Scandals
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What it feels like to be beaten, detained in Tbilisi’s anti-Russia protests
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Hungary vows to block potential EU sanctions on Georgia over protest crackdowns
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has pledged to veto a proposal to impose EU sanctions on Georgian officials, for their crackdown on anti-government protests, the First Channel of Georgia re Source : kyivindependent.com/hungary-v…
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Trump -Zelensky meeting and Johnny Harris controversy | Ukraine This Week
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Georgian opposition politician detained by police, crackdown continues on ninth day of mass protests
Georgian police detained Tsotne Koberidze, a politician and member of the Coalition for Change opposition group, on Dec. 6 amid government crackdowns as pro-EU protests in the country continue. This c Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…
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Ukraine sanctions Georgian government amid crackdown on EU-protests
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky signed on Dec. 5 sanctions against Georgian government officials who are, in his words, “surrendering Georgia to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.” The sanctio Source : kyivindependent.com/ukraine-s…
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Georgian police detain opposition leader amid protests
Georgian police detained Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the Coalition for Change opposition party on Dec. 4 amid government crackdown as pro-EU protests in the country continue. Gvaramia was dragged out Source : kyivindependent.com/georgian-…
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GEORGIA: PRO-RUSSIAN BLOC USE ILLICIT FORCE - Days of protests have rocked Georgia
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Ukraine preparing sanctions against Georgian government amid crackdown on pro-EU protests
President Volodymyr Zelensky tasked Ukrainian officials to prepare sanctions against the Georgian government amid a crackdown against pro-EU protests in the country, he said in an evening address on D Source : kyivindependent.com/ukraine-p…
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Protests in Georgia, explained
For the fifth day in a row, Georgians are holding massive protests in the country’s capital, Tbilisi. The brewing dissatisfaction was ignited by the country’s democratic backsliding under the leadersh Source : kyivindependent.com/protests-…
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Abkhaz council votes against ratification of controversial agreement with Russia
The council of Russian-occupied Abkhazia against a controversial investment agreement with Moscow, which sparked mass protests last month, Interfax reported on Dec. 3. Twenty-one lawmakers voted again Source : kyivindependent.com/abkhaz-co…
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Baltic states will introduce sanctions against members of "Georgian Dream" for suppressing protests
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Scholz in Ukraine. Hundreds detained at protests in Georgia. Rebels in Syria seize equipment
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Kyiv denounces violence against Georgian protesters; Moscow compares pro-EU rally to Orange Revolution
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned on Dec. 2 the violent crackdown by Georgian authorities against pro-EU protesters, saying the government’s steps demonstrate a “turn toward Moscow.” At the same ti Source : kyivindependent.com/ukraine-r…
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Georgian opposition leader briefly detained amid crackdown on pro-EU rally
Georgian police stepped in with beatings against the pro-EU protests in Tbilisi ongoing for the fourth day on Dec. 2, forcibly dispersing the protesters. The latest wave of protests against the ruling Source : kyivindependent.com/georgia-p…
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Thousands of people resumed protests in Tbilisi
