**French President Backs Georgian Protesters**
French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken out in support of protesters in Georgia. He made a phone call to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the patron of the ruling party, and called for an end to violence against peaceful demonstrators. Mr. Macron also asked for the release of all those who have been unfairly arrested.
This comes after President Salome Zurabishvili visited France recently and met with Mr. Macron and US President-elect Donald Trump.
**Energy Crisis Hits Abkhazia**
The Enguri hydroelectric plant, which provides energy to the region, has had to shut down due to low water levels. This has led to a crisis in Abkhazia, with residents being asked to conserve electricity between 9pm and 7am. Critics say that years of economic mismanagement are to blame.
**TV Channel Under Pressure**
Giorgi Gabunia, the director of opposition-leaning TV channel Mtavari Arkhi, claims that the channel is under pressure from Zaza Okuashvili, one of its founders. Mr. Gabunia says that Mr. Okuashvili wants to shut down the channel as part of a business dispute with Bidzina Ivanishvili.
**Civil Servants Join Protests**
Civil servants who have been suspended due to the government’s decision to stop EU integration have joined the protests in Tbilisi and throughout Georgia. They are urging other civil servants to join them and speak out against the government.
**Human Rights Concerns**
The Public Defender’s Office has reported that 226 people detained during the protests said they were mistreated by law enforcement, while 157 had visible injuries. Human Rights Watch is calling on EU foreign affairs ministers to demand an independent investigation into Georgia’s response to the protests and impose sanctions on officials responsible for violence against protesters.
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