Georgia: 'Against Ivanishvili' march on day 682 of protests in Tbilisi
Protesters carrying Georgian, EU, Ukrainian and U.S. flags marched to Rustaveli Avenue on Saturday. Former President Salome Zourabichvili joined them.
Archive image · Photo: Jelger Groeneveld / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Protesters in the Georgian capital Tbilisi held a march on Saturday under the slogan "Georgia against Ivanishvili." According to the Caucasian Knot news site, it was the 682nd day of daily protests. Demonstrators gathered near Avlabari metro station and marched to Rustaveli Avenue carrying Georgian, EU, Ukrainian and U.S. flags. Photos published by Publika showed former President Salome Zourabichvili taking part. Police were present in large numbers.
The protesters spoke out against violence, appealed to law enforcement and demanded a change of political course. They were joined by relatives and supporters of a convicted prisoner who alleges he was abused in a solitary cell at a prison in Rustavi. The Prosecutor General's Office closed its investigation, saying staff had acted lawfully; the penitentiary service rejects the allegations.
Since Nov. 28, 2024, demonstrators have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners. Police have used tear gas, water cannon and detentions, and thousands of protesters have faced administrative penalties. Georgia is on the agenda of EU foreign ministers on Monday.