Anti-government protesters clashed with police during a sixth consecutive day of mass demonstrations against the government's decision to postpone European Union accession talks until 2028, in central Tbilisi on December 4, 2024. — AFP

Georgian police employed water cannons and tear gas on the sixth night of pro-EU protests in Tbilisi after the prime minister warned demonstrators of potential reprisals, deepening the crisis in the Black Sea nation. The country, with a population of approximately 3.7 million, has been engulfed in protests since the ruling Georgian Dream party announced last week that it would suspend EU accession talks.

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has stood firm, refusing to back down and threatening to punish political opponents, accusing them of inciting violence during the mass protests. Protesters continued to gather outside parliament for a sixth consecutive night, though the crowd appeared slightly smaller than in recent days, according to an AFP journalist.

Draped in EU and Georgian flags, protesters jeered at riot police and launched fireworks. Police responded by directing water hoses at the protesters, with some dancing in the jets and others seeking shelter under umbrellas. The police ordered demonstrators to disperse using loudhailers and deployed water cannons to push the crowd away from the parliament building. They then used tear gas in a nearby street, causing protesters to cough and some to use saline solution to rinse their eyes.

Police detained several demonstrators, as shown on Georgian independent television. Tensions were already high following October's parliamentary elections, which saw Georgian Dream return to power amid allegations of vote rigging. However, Kobakhidze's decision to delay EU membership talks until 2028 sparked widespread outrage, although he maintained that the country is still on a path towards membership.

The predominantly young protesters accuse Georgian Dream of acting on Russian orders and fear that the ex-Soviet country will revert to Russian influence. Demonstrators projected a message onto the parliament building that read, 'thank you for not being tired,' according to an AFP reporter. During the latest wave of protests, 293 people have been detained, and 143 police officers injured, the interior ministry reported.

The health ministry stated that 23 protesters were injured on Monday evening. 'We want freedom and we do not want to find ourselves in Russia,' said 21-year-old protester Nika Maghradze. Demonstrators accuse the government of betraying Georgia's bid for EU membership, which is enshrined in the constitution and supported by around 80 percent of the population.

Nugo Chigvinadze, a 41-year-old logistics worker, expressed disbelief in the prime minister's claim that the country is still aiming for EU membership. 'Whatever our government is saying is a lie. No one believed it. No one,' he said. 'They are not intending to enter the European Union.'

Pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili, who is at odds with the government, has supported the protests and called for a re-run of the disputed parliamentary vote. However, Tbilisi's top court rejected a lawsuit filed by Zurabishvili and opposition parties to overturn the election result, intensifying the crisis.

Kobakhidze, who has ruled out talks with the opposition, vowed to hold his opponents accountable. 'Opposition politicians who have orchestrated the violence in recent days while hiding in their offices will not escape responsibility,' he said at a press conference. International criticism of Georgia's handling of the protests has grown, with several Western countries accusing Tbilisi of using excessive force.

Kobakhidze threatened to punish civil servants who join the protests, after several ambassadors and a deputy foreign minister resigned over the crackdown on demonstrators and the decision to suspend EU talks. 'We are closely monitoring everyone's actions, and they will not go without a response,' he said. Using language reminiscent of the Kremlin, Kobakhidze alleged that the protest movement was 'funded from abroad' and accused non-government groups of being behind the protests, vowing that they will 'not evade responsibility.'

At Tuesday's demonstration, 28-year-old IT worker Tsotne defied the threats of reprisals, stating, 'We know we have to fight. It's a peaceful protest, of course, but I guess as an individual, I'm ready to defend my country here.' Georgia has adopted legislation similar to Russia's, designed to restrict NGO activity and curb LGBTQ rights, measures that the EU has criticized. The laws prompted the United States to impose sanctions on Georgian officials.

Kobakhidze expressed hope that 'US attitudes towards us will change after January 20'—when Donald Trump, who has criticized federal support for gender transition, takes office. Kobakhidze's threats to the opposition came as more Western leaders criticized Tbilisi's police response to the protests. NATO chief Mark Rutte condemned the situation in Georgia as 'deeply concerning,' unequivocally condemning reports of violence.

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