**Georgia Protests Turn Violent**
On November 29 and 30, protests were held across Georgia against the government’s (GD) change in foreign policy. The main protest was on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, where around 100,000 people gathered near the parliament building.
**Police Crack Down**
Despite the peaceful atmosphere, police used violence to disperse the crowd. Riot police, special forces, and “men in black” (unidentified men in black with masks and weapons) attacked protesters. The “men in black” were particularly violent and often targeted individual demonstrators.
**Journalists Targeted**
The police also targeted journalists during the protests. Several journalists were injured, including TV Pirveli’s Mariam Gaprindashvili who was seriously hurt and hospitalized.
**Protesters Refuse to Back Down**
Despite the violence, protesters refused to leave. They regrouped after each dispersal and continued their peaceful demonstration. The nights were cold, so protesters set fires to keep warm and built barricades to protect themselves.
**Police Use Excessive Force**
The police used water cannons with chemical agents, tear spray, gas canisters, and batons to disperse the crowd. Most of the protesters were young people, similar to previous protests in 2023 and 2024 against a different law.
**Footage Shows Police Brutality**
Video footage showed police violence towards protesters. One video shows “men in black” gang-beating an apparently helpless man. Another video shows two men kicking a helpless young man who was already injured on the ground.
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