The new European Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen has spent its first day in operation threatening Georgia over the country’s alleged mistreatment of peaceful protesters.
European Union foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas spent her first day in the job warning the ruling Georgian Dream party that it could face “consequences” from Brussels over the alleged use of force against pro-EU demonstrations in the country.
Demonstrators have recently taken to the streets of Tbilisi in response to the government’s decision to suspend its accession to the EU, with images of protesters clashing with riot police going viral online.
We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future.
We condemn the violence against protesters & regret signals from ruling party not to pursue Georgia's path to EU and democratic backsliding of the county.
This will have direct consequences from EU side.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) December 1, 2024
“We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future,” Kallas wrote in an X post on December 1.
“We condemn the violence against protesters and regret signals from the ruling party not to pursue Georgia’s path to EU and democratic backsliding of the county.”
She went on to warn there could be “direct consequences from [the] EU side if the country continues down its current path”.
US, EU call for probe after reports of alleged Georgia election violations
Read the full article 👉🏽 https://t.co/WSeUunvlBJ #georgia pic.twitter.com/iET3gmWo8z
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) October 28, 2024
Kallas’ threats came amid mounting fears of police brutality in Georgia.
Starting on November 30, clashes between law enforcement and those gathered to protest against the government have been ongoing.
According to Amnesty International, police have used “water cannons, tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets” against peaceful protesters in the Georgian capital, with the body accusing the government of showing a “complete disregard for the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”.
The Moscow puppet government in Georgia decided to attack pro-democracy protestors with water cannons, pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets, the protestors responded with the equivalent of a fireworks mini gun. #georgiaprotests pic.twitter.com/oAJN5FOVtt
— Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) November 30, 2024
Footage has shown some demonstrators launching fireworks in the direction of police officers, although online posters claimed that was largely in response to the use of police water cannons.
According to Reuters, authorities in the country have arrested Zurab Japaridze, a prominent leader of the opposition, although it was unclear for what offence, if any.
Authorities have claimed that more 100 police officers have been injured during the demonstrators, with the number of civilian casualties unknown.
The European Commission is pulling back €121 million in assistance for Georgia after the country voted for some laws the EU opposed. https://t.co/XnZZKAMpEq
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) October 9, 2024
