In Tbilisi, law enforcement is dispersing a protest, resulting in injuries and arrests.

In the heart of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, clashes erupted between law enforcement officers and participants of a protest. Security forces prevented demonstrators from entering the parliament building and forcibly dispersed the crowd.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Newsgeorgia.

In the evening, leaders of opposition parties and thousands of people gathered outside the parliament building in Tbilisi to protest the decision of lawmakers to postpone the country's accession to the European Union, which violates the Constitution.

Around midnight local time (00:00 Kyiv time), clashes broke out between protesters and security forces as people attempted to break through to the parliament building from Chichinadze Street. The police threw several smoke bombs into the crowd.

The police attempted to push the protesters away from the service entrance towards Rustaveli Avenue.

The demonstrators formed a barrier and resisted. Shouts of "inhumans," "slaves," and "Russians" were directed at the police.

The situation on Chichinadze escalated within seconds. It was unclear what triggered the confrontation. Hundreds of police, including special forces, were deployed to the entrance.

Later, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili joined the protest on Rustaveli Avenue. She positioned herself between the people and the security forces, attempting to speak with them.

"Who do you serve? Why? For what money do you serve another government?" she asked.

Subsequently, the protesters began to move towards the special forces. Among them were women and children.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the protest "went beyond the legal limits, hence special measures were applied." It was reported that three police officers were injured. The number of injured among the protesters remains unknown.

At 2:26 local time (0:26 Kyiv time), special forces began using smoke bombs, tear gas, and water cannons against the crowd.

Law enforcement officers converged on the main part of the protest on Shota Rustaveli Avenue and started dispersing the people.

As of 2:45 Georgian time, law enforcement had cleared the area near the Georgian parliament.

After the dispersal, people set up symbolic barricades on Rustaveli Avenue. The area in front of the parliament is under the control of special forces.

Subsequently, security forces began to detain the protesters aggressively.

Updated

In central Tbilisi, special forces continue to forcibly disperse the protest.

Tear gas and water cannons are being used against the crowd.

Law enforcement is also using chemical substances. The Association of Young Lawyers demands that the Ministry of Internal Affairs disclose the substances being used.

People remain on Shota Rustaveli Avenue singing the Georgian anthem.

Security forces have pushed some protesters onto nearby streets.

Protesters are once again attempting to build barricades, while special forces demolish them with water cannons. Rustaveli Avenue resembles a battlefield.

Updated 3:24

Security forces have once again deployed water cannons on the central Shota Rustaveli Avenue.

Special forces are using tear gas against the crowd and are mass detaining protesters who refuse to leave the area. There are injuries.

The dispersal of the protest in central Tbilisi has been ongoing for several hours. It is now 5:30 AM in the Georgian capital.

Updated 6:44

A new protest on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi is scheduled for 7:00 PM today, November 29.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili expects a "harsh reaction" from European leaders regarding the violent dispersal of the protest in Tbilisi.

"I expect a strong response from European capitals," the head of state wrote on her page on social media X.

Zourabichvili noted that at the time of writing the post (6:30 in Tbilisi), "protests and repression were still ongoing on Rustaveli," and that "the targets are journalists and political leaders."

Zourabichvili herself attended the protest before the dispersal and attempted to persuade the special forces not to use force against the demonstrators.

Parliamentary Elections and Protests in Georgia

In late October, parliamentary elections were held in Georgia. During the voting, illegal activities were recorded at many polling stations, including ballot stuffing.

According to the election results, the pro-Russian party "Georgian Dream" won, securing 54% of the votes. Four opposition parties received over 5% and entered parliament, but they refused to recognize the election results.

Since early November, leaders of opposition parties and residents of the country have begun mass protests in central Tbilisi. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has also refused to acknowledge the election results.

On Thursday, November 28, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the refusal to initiate negotiations for the country's EU accession until the end of 2028. The government also rejected budget grants from the EU.

This triggered a new wave of intense protests in central Tbilisi.