On the streets of Tbilisi proper now, there’s a battle for Georgia’s future.
On one aspect are protesters and pyrotechnics. On the opposite, is the more and more robust arm of the legislation.
Flashes of pink, inexperienced and gold mild up the night time sky, as fireworks sparkle and rockets scream previous.
Flying within the different route are tear fuel canisters. First you hear the low thud of them being fired, then the rattle and hiss as they hit the bottom.
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Pic: Reuters
And that is not all. Water cannon, pepper spray and rubber bullets have additionally been deployed.
However the protesters are undeterred – constructing barricades out of wheelie bins, and taunting police from behind them.
For six nights now, they’ve massed exterior Georgia’s parliament, offended on the ruling get together’s determination to pause plans to hitch the EU.
Folks really feel cheated, and so they consider Russia is behind it.
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Pic: Reuters
“We don’t need Russia,” Keso informed me, draped in Georgia’s red-and-white nationwide flag.
“We need USA. We need new life and new rules. Not Russia.”
Georgia’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, claims it is all only a misunderstanding – that the protestors have gotten the unsuitable finish of the stick.
“We regret if anyone misunderstood our message,” Mr Kobakhidze informed a press convention on Tuesday.
“Our main foreign policy priority is European integration, but we will pursue this goal with dignity, fairness, and without blackmail.”
However that is not what it appears to be like like. His get together, Georgian Dream, has put EU accession talks with Brussels on maintain till 2028. There’s merely no denying it.
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Pic: Reuters
And there is definitely no misunderstanding what occurred to Zviad Maisashvili, who’s one in all dozens of protestors to finish up in hospital.
Within the early hours of Saturday morning, video emerged of Zviad being kicked within the head by a police officer.
The footage of the assault, which has gone viral, is sickening.
Zviad is mendacity within the street, clearly dazed.
An nameless darkish determine, clad in riot gear, waits for him to sit down up, earlier than swinging a boot sq. into the face and sending his physique flopping again down.
Now out of hospital and again house, Zviad does not bear in mind the kick as a result of he was knocked unconscious.
His nostril was damaged, together with a number of tooth, and his face is now coated with a bandage.
“I just couldn’t believe the policeman who is doing it,” he stated, via swollen lips.
“I just couldn’t believe he’s human.”
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‘I simply could not consider the policeman who’s doing it’, Zviad Maisashvili says
However removed from proving cautionary, the assault seems to be driving others out onto the streets.
“When I was at the hospital, I met people who were beaten up like me, and they were saying to me: ‘Hey man, thank you, you’re a hero’,” Zviad stated.
“‘We’ve never been to a protest ever in our lives but when we saw your video, we went out and started protesting’.”
When he is healed, Zviad will be part of the protests once more too.
Like everybody else, he is refusing to again down.
