Protesters in Tbilisi tried to block the city's main highway
Protesters in Tbilisi tried to block Agmashenebeli Avenue, one of the city's main thoroughfares. "Izvestia" on February 2 publishes footage of the situation in the Georgian capital.
Opposition activists dispersed near "Tbilisi Mall" shopping center on Agmashenebeli Avenue and are calling on police officers to allow them to block the highway.
The situation in the city is tense, and several cordons of the special services of Georgia can be seen on the road. In addition, ambulances and fire brigades are on duty near them.
At one point the protesters broke through the police cordon, but later reinforcements arrived on the scene. Many protesters were detained, among them the leader of the Coalition for Change Nika Melia, according to the Telegram channel of Sputnik Georgia.
At the moment, traffic is possible only on one lane of the highway, the opposition is trying to occupy the entire road.
Since the end of November last year, opposition protests have been going on in Georgia against the results of the elections held in the country, which were won by the Georgian Dream party. Among others, former president Salome Zurabishvili and three opposition political forces - United National Movement, Coalition for Change and Strong Georgia - refused to recognize them.
The presidential election in Georgia was held on December 14, with the Georgian Dream party candidate Mikhail Kavelashvili winning. Afterwards, Zurabishvili refused to leave her post and threatened to "overthrow the regime." On December 29, Kavelashvili was inaugurated.
Later, on January 9, 2025, Zurabishvili said that she will work in the new office and will continue to perform "the functions of the president" in it. She noted that the country is going through a deep crisis and repeated parliamentary elections should be held to get out of it. On January 27, it became known about new anti-government protests in major Georgian cities.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
