Georgia’s streets are ablaze with chaos, as riot police clash with demonstrators in a struggle that cuts to the heart of the nation’s future. Nearly 300 protesters have been detained amid escalating violence in Tbilisi and other cities, where riot police have deployed water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to regain control. The unrest follows the government’s controversial decision to suspend EU membership talks, sparking outrage among pro-EU factions and accusations of foreign meddling.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has drawn a hard line, vowing that Georgia will not bow to external pressure. His government claims the riots are fueled by EU-backed forces aiming to destabilize the country. Reports of arson, vandalism, and clashes with security forces underline the severity of the unrest, as protesters demand a reversal of the government’s decision. Injuries continue to mount, with several dozen affected, yet the administration remains steadfast in prioritizing national sovereignty over what it calls “liberal fascism.”
This isn’t just a local crisis. The political turbulence in Georgia echoes growing unrest in Romania, where NATO’s influence faces backlash. After an anti-war presidential candidate, Călin Georgescu, won an election, Romania annulled the results. Supporters of Georgescu are now being arrested en masse, with attempts underway to dismantle the movement that powered his campaign. This crackdown, combined with NATO’s looming presence, raises alarms about the erosion of democratic freedoms in Eastern Europe.
Romania’s turmoil signals broader geopolitical tensions. As Moldova inches closer to conflict in Transnistria, Romania may soon find itself on a new European front. NATO’s aggressive posture against anti-war candidates reflects a stark shift, heightening fears that Romania’s sovereignty is slipping away under international pressure.
For Georgia, the stakes are clear. The government faces relentless domestic and international pressure, but Garibashvili remains adamant: Georgia will chart its own course. Whether this firm stance safeguards the nation’s independence or deepens its isolation remains to be seen, but the unrest underscores a volatile reality. Europe’s shadow looms large, and for nations like Georgia and Romania, the battle for sovereignty is far from over.
🇬🇪 A massive wave of riot police is pouring through the streets of Georgia to prevent EU-backed rioters from destroying the country!
Unlike Romania, Georgia is not backing down to threats from Brussels or Washington!
This is how it defends real democracy against liberal… pic.twitter.com/NfBzpEImKH— Peacemaker (@peacemaket71) December 15, 2024
NEW:
🇪🇺🇹🇩 Romania, the first country to fall into total NATO dictatorship after an anti-war candidate won an election.
Mass arrests and persecution of supporters of the leading Presidential candidate, Călin Georgescu across the country after a Romanian court decided to annul… pic.twitter.com/mRZwJmI2Zh
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) December 14, 2024