Veldkamp condemns violence during pro-European protests in Georgia
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp condemned the violent crackdown on pro-European protesters in Georgia following demonstrations against the government's suspension of European Union accession talks. The protests, which erupted on Thursday and Friday, have now spread across the country.
"Shocked by the violent actions against protesters and journalists in Georgia, where many citizens are standing up and expressing their European aspirations," Veldkamp said in a statement posted to social media platform X. "The Netherlands condemns this unacceptable violence. The Georgian people deserve our full support."
The protests in Georgia were triggered by the government's decision to pause EU accession talks. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tbilisi on Friday, calling for the resumption of discussions on joining the EU. By Saturday, police had arrested 107 people, and the authorities in the capital responded forcefully, using water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters. The situation in Tbilisi remains tense, with additional demonstrations expected over the weekend.
The unrest is largely connected to Georgia's October parliamentary elections, which resulted in a victory for the Georgian Dream party, a pro-Russian political faction. The opposition, which is pro-European, alleges electoral fraud and has boycotted the newly-elected parliament. These claims have further fueled the protests.
Georgia’s pro-European President Salome Zourabichvili, whose mandate ends in two weeks, declared Saturday that she would remain in office until new elections are held. “As long as there are no new elections and a parliament that elects the new president according to the new rules, my mandate will continue,” Zourabichvili said in a statement.
The EU’s newly appointed High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, expressed concerns about the violence against peaceful protesters. Speaking from Kyiv, Kallas suggested that the European Union could consider imposing sanctions on Georgia. “Violence against peaceful protesters is unacceptable,” Kallas said, adding that she would discuss potential measures with EU member states. These could include sanctions or restrictions on travel, such as visa bans.
Polls show that a majority of Georgians still support EU integration. Despite this, the Georgian Dream party, led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, has said it will not engage in EU talks until at least 2028.
