An ‘Orange Revolution’ is Being Attempted in Georgia: Peskov
Protesters wearing the flags of Georgia, Ukraine, and the European Union. X/ @AnibalGarzon
December 2, 2024 Hour: 9:21 am
On Monday, Georgian PM Kobakhidze threatened to ask the Constitutional Court to outlaw opposition parties.
On Monday, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned of attempts to organize a Ukrainian-style revolution in Georgia, where opposition forces have sparked violent protests over the government’s decision to suspend negotiations for European Union (EU) membership until 2028.
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“There are clear indications of an attempt to organize an Orange Revolution,” the Kremlin official stated, emphasizing that there is a clear effort to destabilize the political situation in the country.
“We have witnessed similar events in other countries. The most direct parallel is what occurred at Maidan in Ukraine,” he said, referencing protests in Ukraine in 2004 and 2014. In the case of the latter protests, the trigger was also the decision to suspend the signing of an Association Agreement with the EU.
On November 28, Georgian authorities decided to suspend negotiations with the EU. On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed surprise at the “courage and character” of the Georgian government in defending a law on transparency of foreign influence.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has faced accusations for months from the opposition, who claim he supports a pro-Russian policy both in relation to the EU and in domestic politics. On Monday, he threatened to ask the Constitutional Court to outlaw opposition parties, accusing them of openly acting against the legal order in the country.
“They have openly acted against the constitutional order, which is grounds for requesting the Constitutional Court to declare opposition parties unconstitutional,” Kobakhidze said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast live on television.
On Sunday, Georgia’s capital experienced its fourth consecutive night of violent clashes between riot police and protesters. The demonstrators are protesting the suspension of EU negotiations and demanding new parliamentary elections.
Since Thursday, Georgian authorities have detained 224 protesters for acts of disobedience and vandalism. Among those detained early Monday was Zurab Dzhaparidze, leader of the opposition Coalition for Change. So far, 113 police officers have been injured, the Interior Ministry reported.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
