•Protesters shoot fireworks toward police during the fifth straight night of demonstrations against the government
Georgia’s health ministry in the US said today that 26 people, mostly protesters, were injured in the latest night of anti-government protest in the Caucasus country.
Georgia has been locked in a political crisis since its contested October election, with tens of thousands of pro-EU protesters taking to the streets in recent days against the governing Georgian Dream party, reports AFP.
Yesterday saw the fifth day of consecutive mass protests in Tbilisi following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement last week that the government would shelve talks on EU accession until 2028.
The ministry said “26 individuals, including 23 protesters and three representatives of the ministry of internal affairs” — a reference to law enforcement officers — were taken to medical facilities after the protest yesterday.
“None of the injuries are life-threatening,” it added.
The ministry also said that some of the injured “remain under medical supervision.”
Some Western countries have criticised Tbilisi for an excessive police response to the demonstrations, with the UN rights chief saying Monday that he was concerned about the “disproportionate” use of force by law enforcement.
The standoff between riot police and mostly young protesters continued throughout the night into today, with police using tear gas against hundreds of demonstrators who responded by throwing fireworks.
