Georgian opposition leader Zurab Japaridze arrested as pro-EU protest rages

The constabulary enactment comes arsenic protesters garbage to backmost down implicit the authorities delaying talks astir joining the EU.

Georgian constabulary person arrested salient absorption person Zurab Japaridze aft utilizing h2o cannon and teardrop state to disperse tens of thousands of antigovernment protesters who refused to backmost down implicit the authorities delaying talks connected joining the European Union.

Japaridze’s apprehension connected Monday comes arsenic Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the absorption of “coordinated violence” aimed astatine overthrowing the law order.

The Coalition for Change, the country’s largest absorption party, confirmed Japaridze’s apprehension aboriginal successful a station connected X.

“Japaridze was fleeing unneurotic with different protesters arsenic helium was grabbed, indicating this was a conscious, targeted determination by the regime,” the connection said.

Footage showed Japaridze being placed successful an unmarked conveyance by masked constabulary aboriginal connected Monday. It was unclear if helium would beryllium charged with immoderate offence.

The ongoing protests successful Georgia were prompted by the government’s announcement past week that it was suspending talks connected joining the EU.

Critics saw that arsenic confirmation of a Russian-influenced displacement distant from pro-Western policies, thing the ruling enactment denies.

The United States and the EU person voiced alarm astatine what they spot arsenic antiauthoritarian backsliding by Georgia, a state of 3.7 cardinal radical that lies astatine the intersection of Europe and Asia and was erstwhile portion of the Soviet Union.

Georgian absorption supporters clasp Georgian flags during the 4th nighttime of protests successful beforehand of the parliament gathering successful Tbilisi [David Mdzinarishvili/EPA]

Russia denies interfering successful its neighbour’s affairs, but erstwhile President Dmitry Medvedev warned connected Sunday that Georgia was “moving rapidly on the Ukrainian path, into the acheronian abyss”.

“Usually this benignant of happening ends precise badly,” helium added.

On Sunday night, protesters gathered again successful Tbilisi connected the cardinal Rustaveli Avenue for the 4th night. Some tossed fireworks astatine police, who responded with volleys of h2o cannon and teardrop gas.

Police yet ended the standoff by moving demonstrators distant from the parliament building.

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said 21 constabulary officers had been injured during the overnight protest, with 113 wounded since the opening of the unrest.

Dozens of protesters person besides been injured since the latest demonstrations began, and the US has condemned what it called the excessive usage of constabulary force.

President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU fig who backs the protesters, said galore of those arrested had suffered caput and look injuries arsenic a effect of beatings.

“This is the revolt of an full country,” she told French quality radical France Inter.

Hundreds of diplomats and civilian servants person signed unfastened letters protesting the determination to suspend talks with the EU and halt receiving immoderate funds from the bloc for 4 years. At slightest 4 Georgian ambassadors person resigned.

Zourabichvili has called for unit to beryllium brought connected the Constitutional Court to annul elections won by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, successful October. Both the absorption and Zourabichvili accidental the canvass was rigged.

Kobakhidze, the premier minister, has rejected their telephone for caller elections.

Tension successful Georgia has been gathering for months arsenic the ruling enactment has passed laws connected “foreign agents” and connected curbing LGBTQ rights.

Georgian Dream says it is acting to support the country’s sovereignty against extracurricular interference and forestall the West from dragging it into a warfare with Russia.

Source

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies