Georgian Prime Minister warns against Maidan scenario in Tbilisi

The number of cases of violence by protesters in the center of Tbilisi is growing, but the country's authorities do not intend to allow them to escalate into events following the scenario of the Ukrainian Maidan. This was warned by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on November 30.

"Unlike Ukraine in 2013, Georgia is an independent state with strong institutions and, most importantly, experienced and wise people. The Maidan scenario cannot be realized in Georgia. Georgia is a state and will not allow it," News Georgia quoted the politician's briefing as saying.

He noted that the radical group of the instigators of the riots consists of about 500 people. They systematically committed aggressive actions against police officers, using Molotov cocktails and pyrotechnics, among other things.

Kobakhidze believes that all responsibility for the violent actions of the protesters in Tbilisi lies with European politicians, bureaucrats, and their agents in Georgia - the so-called "fifth column" in the form of radical opposition parties.

"Radicals and their foreign patrons are trying to invent any excuse to create destabilization and chaos, to Ukrainianize Georgia. The Maidan scenario will not be realized in Georgia. Such lies and duplicity, which our society has been watching for the past three years, undermine the confidence of Georgians in European institutions" - Prime Minister noted.

Share Dynamics: Does Georgia expect the Ukrainian scenario?

The decision of the country's authorities to put the issue of European integration on pause has intensified opposition protests

Earlier on November 30, former Georgian MP Petre Mamradze told Izvestia that the Georgian opposition has no strategy and will not have enough strength to realize the scenario of the 2014 Ukrainian Maidan in the country.

Mamuka Pipia, International Secretary of the Solidarity for Peace party, also told Izvestia that the situation with the protests in Georgia is being directed from the West. According to him, "Western partners" give instructions to the provocateurs, the fulfillment of which is carried out mechanically. He noted that this is a coup plan "which they had a year ago."

On the morning of the day, a crowd of protesters gathered again outside the Georgian parliament building in the center of Tbilisi on Freedom Square. It was also reported at the time that security forces began using water cannons to disperse protesters outside the Georgian parliament building on Rustaveli Street.

On November 29, "Izvestia" reported that security measures were strengthened on Rustaveli Avenue against the background of the anti-government rally. There were several dozen protesters near the parliament building, who probably stayed there overnight. It was noted that protests continue in Tbilisi because of the suspension of negotiations on European integration. The protesters oppose the decision to postpone negotiations with the EU. The Georgian Interior Ministry reported that after the dispersal of unrest near the Parliament building 32 police officers required medical assistance.

Prior to that, on November 28, the ruling Georgian Dream party decided to suspend discussions with the EU on opening accession talks with the union until 2028. As Kobakhidze specified, Georgia will continue to fulfill its obligations under the associated membership and free trade agreement and will fulfill them by 90% by 2028.