The European Union reacted to the rallies against the Russian Law and the crackdown on peaceful demonstrators. The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, called on the authorities to protect the right to peaceful assembly.
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“I strongly condemn the violence against protesters in Georgia who were peacefully demonstrating against the law on foreign influence. Georgia is an EU candidate country. I call on its authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly.Use of force to suppress it is unacceptable,” says Josep Borelli.
“We are now shocked to see Georgians being dragged towards unfreedom by those who are most scared of freedom themselves. But we know that Georgians, like Lithuanians, are eternally free-spirited and freedom will always flourish.
We supported the people of Georgia since the first flowers of your true independence bloomed. Lithuanians cheered for your victories, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder when Russia attacked you, we wept for your loss of life and land,” says Foreign Affairs Minister of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis and responds to the leader of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s anti-Western messages:
“I am heartbroken to hear Ivanishvili’s vision for Georgia’s future. I am devastated by this sudden change in relations with countries, including Lithuania, which have been Georgia's closest allies. It feels like we are losing a friend.”
MEPs also responded to the crackdown on the rally. A member of the European People's Party group, the former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius, draws parallels with the regimes of Russia and Belarus. "The same path is followed by Putin, Lukashenko, and Ivanishvili: first-brutal force against peaceful demonstrations, then the establishment of a dictatorship against the democratic future of a country. Future of dictatorships is always the same: sanctions, collapse, and Tribunal," says Kubilius.
Another Lithuanian MEP, former Minister of Defense Rasa Jukneviciene, publishes a video of a water cannon attack on protestors and writes:
“The masks have come off - Ivanishvili has revealed his opposition to Georgia's European direction, showing his true colors. He was never in favor.
Now is a crucial moment for Georgia's future. I believe in the Georgian people; they will defend Georgia's European path!”
Viola von Cramon states that "concrete consequences" are needed. This is how the German MEP considers the withdrawal of the EU-candidate status for Georgia, the termination of project financing for Georgia, the sanction Bidzina Ivanishvilli, and the travel bans for MPs who vote in favor of the Russian Law.
The ruling Georgian Dream continues to discuss the re-initiated Russian Law, against which mass rallies have been held every day in Tbilisi since April 15. Yesterday, the Internal Affairs Ministry dispersed peaceful protesters to allow the pro-Russian Georgian Dream MPs to leave the parliament peacefully.
Pepper spray, water cannons, and tear gas were used against the citizens, for which, according to the public defender, the MIA had no basis. Additionally, the special forces abused the citizens; they severely beat the United National Movement chairman, deputy Levan Khabeishvili. Journalists were also injured during the rally.
The Internal Affairs Ministry detained 63 people administratively under the pretext of petty hooliganism and disobedience to the legal demands of the police.
