Georgian PM says law enforcement “acted with utmost proportionality of force” against rally protesting delay in EU integration

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said the country’s law enforcement had “acted with utmost proportionality of force” during clashes at a rally outside the Parliament building in Tbilisi between late on Thursday and Friday against protesters demonstrating against the Government's decision to suspend the country's European Union accession talks until 2028.

If there were any misdemeanours, of course it will be important to address them. However, the process of dispersing the rally was largely in line with the principle of proportionality. When faced with violence on such a scale, there is a significant risk of injury to civilians, including journalists, which is unfortunate”, Kobakhidze said at a press conference.

Everything should be done in the future to prevent such incidents. However, in situations of systematic and large-scale violence, it is difficult to completely avoid these outcomes”, he added.

Kobakhidze called on law enforcement officers to “prioritise the safety of every citizen and particularly of media representatives”.

There was systemic and pre-organised violence, with violent groups involved. Unfortunately, during the breaking up of the rally, peaceful protesters were injured, and, regrettably, journalists were among those affected. I urge all law enforcement officers to exercise utmost care for every citizen, especially those in the media”, he said.

The PM further noted 32 police officers had sustained injuries during clashes at the rally, with 13 requiring surgical intervention, attributing the violence to “radical opposition groups”.

It is clear these violent groups had been preparing for violence in the second half of December. However [...] we succeeded in being one step ahead of them and forcing them to waste their resources in advance [at the protest]”, he also claimed.

Kobakhidze emphasised Georgia was a democratic state that had “upheld the right to peaceful protest since 2012”.  “However, unfortunately, the protest yesterday quickly escalated and became illegal”, he added.

The PM thanked the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and police officers for their “commitment to restoring order” and for “exercising restraint amid aggression”. “Let me remind everyone that all violations of the law will be met with the full severity of the law”, he concluded.

The Interior Ministry earlier today said law enforcement had arrested 43 individuals during the protests overnight for “disobedience to police orders” and “petty hooliganism”.

It added an investigation had also been launched under the criminal code for alleged attacks on police officers or public institutions and property damage “using dangerous means”. The body further reported injuries to 32 police officers, with 13 requiring surgery.

Twenty-two journalists and cameramen were reportedly assaulted during the rally dispersal, domestic media also reported.

The protests, already present before the Government’s announcement on Thursday, entered a new gear with the development, in which Kobakhidze said the decision to suspend the accession talks with the EU had been based on interest in “dignified” EU integration amid a “cascade of insults and blackmail by European politicians and bureaucrats”.