At least 26 people, primarily demonstrators, were injured during clashes on Monday evening in Georgia, according to reports from media sources citing the country’s Ministry of Health. This unrest has unfolded after a week of pro-European protests in the Caucasus nation.
The ministry stated in a release reported by the media that emergency services “transported 26 individuals to medical facilities,” including 23 protesters and three police officers among the injured.
On Monday, thousands of demonstrators once again gathered in Tbilisi, the capital, marking the fifth day of widespread mobilization against the government’s policies, which have been criticized for exhibiting an “authoritarian drift.”
The ruling Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, ignited these protests last Thursday by postponing membership negotiations with the European Union until 2028.
Police deployed powerful water cannons and tear gas starting in the early evening to disperse the crowd, which retaliated by launching fireworks at the officers, according to media reports. Several dozen demonstrators, journalists, and police officers have already sustained injuries during skirmishes associated with these gatherings.
