Anti-government protests in Georgia have reached the 30-day mark and are expected to intensify ahead of the swearing in of the country’s new anti-Western president on Sunday, as demonstrators continue to demand new elections.
The South Caucasus nation has been in the midst of a political crisis since pro-Russian ruling party Georgian Dream claimed victory in October parliamentary elections which the pro-EU opposition says were tampered with.
Tensions came to a high in November when the Georgian government suspended EU accession talks until 2028, sparking daily protests across the country.
Demonstrators vowed that their movement would intensify on Sunday, when President-elect Mikheil Kavelashvili is due to be inaugurated.
Georgia, which picks presidents by a college of electors composed of MPs and representatives of local government, saw lawmakers elect anti-Western Kavelashvili on December 14.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Friday that if incumbent President Salome Zourabichvili refuses to leave the Orbeliani Palace – the official presidential residence – she could be arrested.
The pro-EU Zourabichvili has said she will not step down until new parliamentary elections are called.
Meanwhile, MEPs Michał Wawrykiewicz and Dainius Žalimas – from Poland and Lithuania, respectively – are planning to visit Georgian capital Tbilisi this weekend to meet with members of Georgia’s opposition and non-government organizations, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Poland is a vocal supporter of Georgian aspirations to join the EU, with Polish President Andrzej Duda saying on Monday that his Georgian counterpart Zourabichvili has his “unwavering support”.
