Day 15 of pro-European protests in Georgia: Key events LIVE

Vato Bjalava is an active participant in the pro-European protests in Georgia. His friends reported that he was seized by police while walking his dog near his home on Abashidze Street in Tbilisi. “They tied his dog to a tree and took him away without even letting him bring the dog home,” his friend Natia Chikovani wrote on social media.

“Before the arrest, he called his brother to ask if he needed to buy anything at the store. When he was gone for too long, Soso, his brother, called him, but his phone was turned off. Soso then went outside and found the dog tied to a tree.

Store employees said that Vato had a bag of purchased goods in his hand and had to leave it behind at the store during the sudden arrest,” friends recounted.

Vato Bjalava is a research fellow at the Rondeli Foundation. The day before his arrest, he was summoned to court and questioned as a witness in an investigation into “organized group violence” and “public calls to violent action.”

After returning home, Bjalava wrote on Facebook: “The questions were very general. I swore not to disclose the contents of the conversation and cannot share details. This entire process is designed to intimidate and pressure the population.”

The European Union Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, stated that the new leaders of various EU institutions “are ready to move from words to action regarding Georgia.” He announced that the situation in the country will be discussed on December 16 at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, followed by a session of the EU Council.

Herczyński reiterated that intensive negotiations are underway in Brussels to “coordinate various measures” concerning Georgia, including the possible suspension of visa-free travel for individuals with certain categories of passports. “As for sanctions, their implementation requires the unanimous agreement of all EU member states. I hope everyone will come to a decision on the necessity of punishing those responsible for gross human rights violations in Georgia,” Herczyński said.

Opposition blocs *Coalition for Change*, *Unity – National Movement*, *Strong Georgia*, and the party ‘Gakharia – For Georgia’ issued statements declaring the presidential election set by the ruling party for December 14 illegitimate.

“There is only one solution to the severe political crisis the country is facing: the conduct of new, fair parliamentary elections. This is our primary demand. We do not recognize the results of the rigged October 26 election, nor do we recognize the self-proclaimed government or any of its decisions. Instead of parliamentary elections, [honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, oligarch] Ivanishvili orchestrated a constitutional coup against the citizens of Georgia and the country’s Euro-Atlantic future.

An illegitimate parliament does not have the authority to elect a president. Therefore, Salome Zourabichvili will remain the President of Georgia, the Supreme Commander of the Defense Forces, and the highest representative of the country in foreign affairs,” reads the joint statement from the three opposition blocs.

The party ‘Gakharia – For Georgia’ also confirmed that it “will not participate in the unlawful presidential election process and will not recognize the decisions of the de facto illegitimate parliament, including the unlawfully elected president.”

This time, Georgia’s president will not be elected by the people but by a special electoral college. Details on how this process will unfold can be found here.

All four opposition forces that made statements had won seats in parliament during the October 26 election and their representatives were supposed to join the electoral college. However, all four blocs denounced the election as fraudulent and renounced their mandates.

Garibashvili has been absent from the public sphere for several days, with reports confirming that he was taken to the hospital with injuries. The opposition TV channel Mtavari reported that Garibashvili was subjected to physical violence by members of his own political team. “There are reports of an alleged physical altercation within the oligarch’s team,” the channel stated.

Garibashvili denied these claims, stating that he sustained a minor injury during training and accusing Bachiashvili of spreading falsehoods. “This disgusting lie was invented by the traitor Bachiashvili. Everything he has said is slander, including claims that I left the party.”

*Giorgi Bachiashvili was once part of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s inner circle and was referred to in the media as “the oligarch’s personal banker.”

“We are shocked by the violence used by the police and informal groups against protesters, journalists, and opposition representatives,” stated Gareth Ward, the British Ambassador to Georgia, in a video message in Georgian. He called for a swift and independent investigation into these actions.

The ambassador reiterated that the UK is suspending its support program for the Georgian government. “This means the cessation of funding for the Peace Fund under the Ministry of Reconciliation and Civic Integration, as well as a reduction in military cooperation. Britain will no longer assist the Georgian Ministry of Defense in establishing a cybersecurity center. Additionally, we will limit political meetings, communications, and, in general, strategic dialogue.”