**President Calls for Negotiations and New Elections**
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has released a video address to the public. She is calling on businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili to negotiate setting a date for new elections by December 29. The President also announced that a special council will be created to prepare for these elections.
**Business Leaders Meet to Discuss Crisis**
Georgian Dream PM Irakli Kobakhidze met with big business leaders, including those who signed the Free Business Platform. They discussed the country’s political crisis and potential solutions. However, the four-hour meeting showed differing opinions among the business community.
**Oncology Patients Demand Change**
Patients with cancer have gathered near a metro station in Tbilisi. They are calling for new elections, the release of those detained during protests, and a healthcare system that meets European standards. The protesters marched towards parliament, holding banners criticizing state spending.
**Public Broadcaster Protested**
Dozens of employees staged a brief protest outside Georgia’s Public Broadcaster on December 23. They demanded management allow for daytime coverage of social, economic, and political issues instead of airing movies during the day.
**Concerns Over Detainee Treatment**
Civil society organizations have released a joint statement highlighting concerns over criminal procedures against detainees in Georgia. The monitoring report shows disturbing trends, including allegations of physical and psychological abuse, judicial bias, and lack of accountability for law enforcement officials.
**Germany Halts Funding**
The German Ambassador to Georgia has announced that Germany is halting projects worth €237 million with the Georgian government. This decision follows the country’s departure from its EU path and the crackdown on protests.
**OSCE Concerned Over Human Rights**
38 OSCE participating states have expressed deep concern over human rights developments in Georgia since the November 28 announcement on withdrawal from the EU membership process. They invite Georgia to engage in a constructive dialogue and respond substantively to several concerns.
**Election Report Released**
The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) final report on Georgia’s parliamentary elections has deemed them “fundamentally flawed.” The report highlights four main concerns and several reform recommendations, stating that only new elections can restore confidence in the government’s legitimacy.