A tense scene occurred in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi as police arrested the leader of one of the country’s opposition parties. Police allegedly knocked the leader of the Georgia’s Coalition for Change Party unconscious during the physical altercation.
The confrontation between police and the opposition leader occured on Wednesday, Dec. 4, as Georgian authorities reportedly raided the offices of opposition party members.
Critics say the crackdown is meant to snuff out mass protests gripping the nation for nearly a week. The demonstrations follow Georgia’s ruling party’s decision to suspend negotiations on European Union membership last week.
Hundreds of protesters have reportedly been detained by police during the demonstrations, and more than 100 people have been hurt.
The Georgian prime minister, who is part of the ruling party, known as the Georgian Dream Party, denied the police raids on Wednesday were repression and claimed they only targeted those encouraging violence during the mass protests.
The Dream Party retained control of the Georgian Parliament after elections on Oct. 26, which the opposition and Georgian president have called fraudulent.
The Georgian president is calling on Western powers this week to support the “national movement” among protesters and accusing the ruling party of using pro-Russian tactics to suppress free speech.
The United States has condemned violence against Georgian protesters, and the EU noted it has “serious concerns about the continuous democratic backsliding of the country.”
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