**Protests in Tbilisi Over EU Accession**
Police have started dispersing protesters who gathered near the parliament for a spontaneous rally in Tbilisi. The protest was sparked by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s statement that Georgia’s integration into the European Union could be postponed until 2028.
Many people are upset about this decision, as they feel it goes against the country’s aspirations to join the EU. The ruling Georgian Dream party has been accused of democratic backsliding and steering the country closer to Russia.
The protest was organized through social media, with many people taking to the streets to express their discontent. Clashes between police and protesters occurred, with both sides using pepper spray and other objects to try and disperse each other.
Several people were beaten by police during the clashes. The Georgian Interior Ministry said that three police officers were injured, and two of them were hospitalized.
The protests follow a number of controversies in Georgia, including the suspension of the country’s EU accession process. This has highlighted the growing rift between Tbilisi and the West.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has accused the ruling party of rigging recent elections and refusing to accept the results. She has called for public demonstrations and a parliamentary boycott.
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