Protests continue in Tbilisi over suspension of European integration talks

Several hundred special forces and special equipment patrol the streets of Tbilisi after protests broke out in the city. "Izvestia" on November 28 published footage from the scene.

"Part of the special forces remains on Freedom Square, you can also see special equipment in the footage. The most radical protesters remain near the parliament building and are trying to break in," journalist Giorgi Jabishvili reported.

He also added that a part of law enforcers was transferred from Victory Square to the building of the Office of the Prime Minister of Georgia to strengthen law enforcement.

The Georgian opposition marched to the Parliament earlier in the day. The protesters are against the decision of the country's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to postpone negotiations with the European Union (EU) on Georgia's membership until 2028.

Clashes between the radical part of the opposition and the police began outside the Georgian parliament building. According to social media posts, the country's President Salome Zurabishvili joined the rally.

Jump to retreat: EU ready to unfreeze Georgia's European integration process

But Tbilisi has decided to pause the issue until 2028

Earlier, on November 28, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that the ruling Georgian Dream party had decided to suspend discussions with the EU on Georgia's accession to the association until 2028.

Before that, on November 18, it was reported that the EU foreign ministers agreed to redirect €120 million of aid intended for the authorities to "support civil society". In addition, a political mission will be sent to Georgia to study what happened in the country, referring to the situation around the parliamentary elections held in the republic.

On May 14, the Georgian parliament adopted the law on foreign agents in the third and final reading. The country's President Salome Zurabishvili later said that she intended to veto the adopted bill. The situation around the law provoked a wave of protests.

The EC and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said in a joint statement that the adoption of the law on foreign agents by the Georgian authorities would have a negative impact on the country's integration into the European Union.