EU Report

Ministry of Health of Georgia: "On December 6, emergency medical teams delivered 9 protest participants from the rally to medical facilities. They have various types of injuries: chest and upper limb injuries, upper limb fractures, superficial injuries and intoxication. According to the department, two patients continue treatment in clinics under the supervision of doctors. Their lives are not in danger. The rest have been discharged from medical institutions." 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Caucasian Knot correspondent Beslan Kmuzov has been detained while covering pro-European protests in Tbilisi. His wife says police told her he was being detained under Article 173, disobeying police. "The police officer said there would be a trial tomorrow and he would most likely be released after the trial," she said. 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Trouw correspondent from the Netherlands Jarron Kamphorst writes: "My friend Witse was arrested last night (watch the video of his arrest). We got out of the taxi, he was just standing there and they took him away. For no reason. Of course his arrest is illegal. Release him right now (and everyone else)." The name of the kidnapped person is Wietse de Geyter, he is a Belgian citizen. In the video he appears twice in the frame (jacket with stripes), the second time he is grabbed by special forces. Video by Publika 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

A Canadian journalist who came to Tbilisi as a tourist reported an attack by police, when returning to his hotel. A Canadian journalist (name changed at his request) wrote to the Paper Kartuli bot. He currently lives and works in Ukraine, and flew to Tbilisi to visit friends. He was returning to his hotel at around 2:00 a.m. At Freedom Square, the police blocked his path and told him politely he should take another way. Soon after he did, more police officers showed up, started yelling at him and threw him down on the pavement. He yelled back that he was just a tourist and not taking part in the protests. Then they send him towards Rustaveli, where people were already being dispersed with tear gas. It was difficult to leave, but he eventually joined a group of protesters moving toward the embankment. Only 1,5-2 hours after the attack he got out. "It's a bit ironic that I spent so much time in the war in Ukraine, but Georgia turned out to be the most dangerous place for me." 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

On the ninth night of continuous protests in Tbilisi, 'riot police' again violently dispersed a peaceful demonstration, using tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray against protesters. Throughout the evening and night, the regime's 'special forces' detained and beat demonstrators, detained journalists and politicians, passers-by, children, women, and foreign passers-by. ▶️ Later, some of the protesters left Rustaveli Avenue and moved to the streets of Tbilisi with a procession. They were attacked by armed "titushki". ▶️ The procession ended in Saburtalo, people had to hide wherever they could so as not to be detained by the criminal police. Protests in Georgia: Since November 28, protests have been taking place across Georgia, which began after the ruling party decided not to start negotiations on EU membership until the end of 2028. ▶️ Protesters accuse the regime of sabotaging the European integration process and demand early parliamentary elections. 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

The head of the GYLA Young Lawyers Association, Nona Kurdovanidze, reports that despite numerous cases of torture and inhuman treatment, the Special Investigative Service has not yet launched an investigation with the correct qualification. "They received about 320 notifications, and an investigation was launched under articles on abuse of office and obstruction of journalistic activity. So far, no criminal prosecution has been initiated against a single person," Kurdovanidze writes. 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Apart from Russia, in which country do mass protests find themselves surrounded? - writes Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on social media. "In what country, other than Russia, do mass protests end up surrounded? Usually the goal is dispersal, not destruction. Last night, riot police chased every protester who managed to escape, and found them kilometers from the center," writes Salome Zurabishvili. The President of Georgia notes that “the ruling party is intensifying repression.” "Last night, armed criminals were seen providing unofficial assistance to the special forces. The ruling party is stepping up repression." 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Part II of Misha's testimony After the massacre, we were handed over to the patrol service and were distributed among various pre-trial detention facilities. After 30 hours in the detention center, we were transported to the Tbilisi City Court, where only the cases of the rally participants were heard, and everyone was charged under the same invented scenario and sentenced to imprisonment for up to 7 days. The places in the detention centers were occupied, and we had to be distributed among different cities. This poorly staged "soap opera" soon ended without any physical reprisals against those detained, and we were all convicted. 48 hours was more than enough to see the quagmire our country is in, with broken institutions, subservient judges and intimidated police, all manipulating the same message box. Don't be afraid, be angry. You cannot judge me, only God can judge me," Misha Metreveli writes on social media. *Khareba is the head of Georgia's special forces, Zviad Kharazishvili, who is under US sanctions for "abusing his power to restrict the fundamental freedoms of the people of Georgia." Photo by Misha Metreveli 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

A citizen detained and beaten by special forces during the protest on December 3, Misha Metreveli, recalls the arrest and violence against him and other protesters: "On December 3, from about 01:00 to 02:00, when I was at a peaceful protest on Besiki Street, people in black masks from the GDD (special forces) appeared. During the arrest, I told them that I was surrendering and was not going to resist, despite this they began to search me and used disproportionate force. One of them stood out and said to stop the physical abuse because everything was visible from the neighboring houses. Then they put me in a Ford Transit truck belonging to the 112 service, where they began to "punish" us along with the other detainees. Six men in black masks beat on us at the same time and then tried to film us by forcing us to say the phrase: "Khareba* is a tough guy", which we firmly refused. After that, the physical retaliation continued for two more rounds. Continues in part II 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Lawyers working in Georgia are distributing a joint statement protesting the country's change in European course and the systemic violence occurring in the country. “We, lawyers working in Georgia, condemn the change in the country’s European course and systemic violence. We are true to our professional oath and Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, according to which “constitutional bodies must take all necessary measures within their competence to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.” The Georgian Dream's decision to suspend the process of opening EU accession negotiations until 2028 contradicts Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia and the will of the Georgian people. This decision has caused a fair and legitimate protest from the population of Georgia. In recent days, peaceful demonstrators have not been given the opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights. We have witnessed numerous brutal dispersals, torture and inhuman treatment, brutal physical attacks, threats, terror, insults to dignity and honor, violations of the right to freedom of expression and rallies, as well as other violations of constitutional rights. We demand that the Georgian Dream, which is going beyond the Constitution, stop interfering in the process of Georgia’s integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures and violence against demonstrators. "Georgia's place is in the European Union! Russia is an occupier!" - says the statement signed by the lawyers. 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Global women leaders respond to current events in Georgia with an open letter and express support for the Georgian people and President Salome Zurabishvili: "Recent events in Tbilisi, where more than 200,000 citizens took to the streets to protest the suspension of EU accession talks by the Russia-aligned ruling party, underscore the deep commitment of the Georgian people to their European future and democratic path. The ruling party’s actions, including the suspension of EU accession talks and the violent suppression of peaceful protests, are a direct violation of Georgia’s constitution and fundamental human rights. Combined with what international observers have called rigged parliamentary elections and a systematic undermining of democratic norms, these actions betray the interests of the majority of Georgian citizens who support Euro-Atlantic integration and a democratic future. Despite constant attacks and harassment from the government, President Zurabishvili has demonstrated unwavering courage and leadership by condemning the government’s anti-democratic measures. By speaking out in support of the protesters and rejecting the unconstitutional actions of the ruling Georgian Dream party, she has embodied the will of her people and upheld the democratic principles to which Georgia has long aspired. She remains the only legitimate leader in a country where the current government came to power through dubious elections. The international community must take immediate and decisive action. We call on the EU, foreign governments and multilateral organizations to support President Zurabishvili's mandate and provide strong support to Georgian civil society. Georgia is not an isolated case: it is a critical battleground in the global struggle between authoritarianism and democracy. As women leaders, we call on the international community to act decisively to protect Georgia's democracy and the unwavering courage of its people and president." Signatories: Helen Clark (former Prime Minister of New Zealand), Hillary Clinton (67th US Secretary of State), Patricia Espinosa (former Foreign Minister of Mexico), Julia Gillard (former Prime Minister of Australia), Dalia Grybauskaite (former President of Lithuania), Sanna Marin (former Prime Minister of Finland), Monica McWilliams (former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland), Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland), Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu (President of the Republic of Kosovo), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (former President of Liberia), Melanie Verver (former US Ambassador at Global Women's Issues and Executive Director of the Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University). 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis called on the EU to impose an embargo on the export of equipment used by police to commit violence against protesters against Georgia. 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Tamta Gogoladze stated that the so-called "search" was in reality a robbery, not a search, and listed what the Georgian Interior Ministry officers took from the office: "Sports mats, electric heaters, generators, generator fuel for several liters, chargers, extension cords, T-shirts, all kinds of household appliances, raincoats, masks, firecrackers, lasers, acrylic paints, power supplies, flagpoles, microphones, speakers, sprayers, mixers, photo&film cameras, computers. If I remember anything, I'll add it. Toilets in place." 🇪🇺 @EU_Report 🇬🇪

Doctor Jaba Zarkua, seeing how hospitals were keeping silent about the victims and how the Ministry of Health was hiding the situation, decided to take responsibility for making public the condition of those beaten and gassed. He had previously asked hospital management to publish the information, but there was no response. "I appeal to young doctors from the Gudushauri and Ingorokva clinics. Your management will never disclose data on the victims (meaning general data), because you yourself understand perfectly well that their existence is based on rotten, corrupt loyalty. Yesterday I gave them a perfect chance – without the press and cameras – to at least through me spread general information about the victims. They did not take advantage of this chance. Although I did not want to be a spokesman for the loyalists, I thought: business is business. But they missed this chance. Now I turn to you, wonderful professionals with whom I have developed strong professional relationships while we work together to achieve a common goal. Now the ball is in your court. Please provide the following information: 1. How many victims are there in your clinics? 2. What is their health condition? (mild, moderate, severe – according to your assessment). 3. Demographic data: (male/female, <20 years, 20–50 years, >50 years). 4. I will be glad if you write this in the comments, post it on your pages, and I will share it. Or write to me personally here or by email ( _jabazarqua@gmail.com), and I will pass the information on. Remember that our colleague and friend, Dr. Vato, who yesterday in an interview spoke with trepidation about the memory of Mr. Gudushauri, was beaten while performing his medical duties. Sharing general information about victims is the bare minimum we can do for each other, for our profession and for our patients ✊ We gave the management a chance and they failed. Now we have to act ourselves." 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

One of the opposition leaders, Khatia Dekanoidze, who worked for five years as the rector of the Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, writes : "Yesterday was probably one of the hardest nights. When the dispersal began, the Berkut blocked us at Kashveti. When I went up the stairs, I saw a man lying unconscious right in front of the temple. They didn't let me get close. Then they threw me down the stairs again. They took this man away in their minibus. The ambulance did not arrive. Now I look at the footage and it turns out that this guy was detained at the Marriott, you can see him being dragged into a corner. He was beaten so badly that he lost consciousness in front of Kashveti and was left there. I can't find who it is... maybe you recognize him." The arrest of this man is on this video . 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

The People's Defender calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop dispersing the meeting, detaining participants and using special means, and to allow protesters to continue the action. As Levan Ioseliani notes in his statement, there were no legal grounds for dispersing the protesters. "The Public Defender responds to the ongoing action on Rustaveli Avenue and notes that at the time the dispersal began (00:34), the action was peaceful, and there were no legal grounds for its dispersal and interference with freedom of assembly. The Public Defender calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop dispersing the assembly, detaining participants and using special means, and to allow protesters to continue the action," the Ombudsman said in a statement. 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

The center of Tbilisi is shrouded in clouds of tear gas, the 'regime's special forces' are chasing protesters along Rustaveli Avenue, capturing and detaining literally everyone they can catch. 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

Special forces on Republic Square simply rush at people in a pack Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili: The 9th day of the Georgians' struggle for their freedom and European future has been marked by brutal terror and repression. Gross violations of fundamental human rights - abductions, beatings, illegal searches and arrests - continue unabated. Video by @NotoRussianLawinGeorgia 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

It is reported that the 'special forces' located at the Republic Square are distinguished by their aggression and anyone who passes by can be detained Video by TV Formula 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪

The fact that there will be a crackdown today is also indicated by the fact that jammers are working, said a operator of a drone-camera. "I tried to raise the drone, but it did not catch a single satellite for orientation in space. In the end, with difficulty, but I managed to land it. Drones are jammed so that no one films the beating of people from the air." 🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇬🇪