Zelenskyy prepared to sanction Georgian government

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Georgian Dream (GD) of pushing the country towards dependence on Russia, and said he is working with European and other partners to prepare sanctions against the Georgian government.

“This situation in Georgia, of course, is not just the problem of one nation and not just the problem of our region – how the current government in Georgia is pushing the country into clear dependence on Russia. It is truly shameful what actions they are taking against their own people,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

It comes as thousands took to the streets again in what marked the seventh night of protests against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on Georgia joining the European Union (EU).

The Georgian people that gathered in the capital are adament to protest as long as it takes until their demands are met and Georgia is back on track towards EU accession.

Demonstrators, wrapped in Georgian and European flags holding lasers and whistles, gathered in front of the parliament. Unlike previous nights, riot police did not try to disperse the protesters.

In the past six days, riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, who threw fireworks at police officers and built barricades on the central boulevard of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

Since Thursday last week, at least 300 protesters have been detained and 100 treated for injuries.

Amid the ongoing demonstrations, police also detained one of the country’s opposition leaders in the capital, in an apparent attempt to suppress the wave of protests.

The Coalition for Change opposition party said that police raided its offices and detained its leader, Nika Gvaramia.

The party shared a video in which several officers are seen dragging Gvaramia into a car, while someone in the background is yelling “How are you dragging him? What are you doing, what are you doing? He is feeling bad. Call the ambulance. He is unconscious.”

Local media reported that the police also raided offices of several other opposition groups, as well as non-governmental organisations.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the Georgian Dream party previously accused the opposition of attempting a revolution, and said the raids targeted those who encouraged violence during protests in an attempt to topple his government.