<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/02/georgian-opposition-leader-arrested-after-fourth-night-of-protests>
"Georgian police have arrested a prominent opposition leader after using water
cannon and teargas to scatter anti-government protesters who rallied outside
parliament for a fourth consecutive night.
The protests were sparked by the government’s announcement last week that it
was suspending talks on joining the EU. Critics saw that as confirmation of a
Russian-influenced shift away from pro-western policies, something the ruling
party denies.
The Coalition for Change, the country’s largest opposition party, said in a
post on X that Zurab Japaridze, one of its leaders, was arrested by police
early on Monday as he was leaving the demonstration.
Footage showed Japaridze being placed in an unmarked vehicle by masked police.
It was not clear if he would be charged with any offence.
The US and the EU have voiced alarm at what they see as democratic backsliding
by Georgia, a country of 3.7 million people that lies at the intersection of
Europe and Asia and was once part of the Soviet Union."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
