EU envoy says Georgia's freezing of EU talks 'heartbreaking'

29/11/2024 17:56

        The European Union's ambassador to Georgia said on Friday that Tbilisi's move to effectively halt its EU accession bid until 2028 was "heartbreaking" and he also condemned police violence against protesters at a pro-EU demonstration on Thursday.
        
        Police used water cannon, pepper spray and tear gas against masked young protesters angry over the decision by the ruling Georgian Dream party to suspend the EU accession talks over what it called "blackmail" by Brussels.
        
        "We deplore that violence has been used against peaceful protesters," EU envoy Pawel Herczynski said.
        
        Describing the decision to freeze the accession talks as "very regrettable... heartbreaking", Herczynski added: "What has happened yesterday clearly goes against the policy of the previous government of Georgia, actually all previous governments of Georgia, it also goes against the will of the vast majority of the population of Georgia."
        
        Opinion polls show that EU membership is supported by around 80% of the Georgian population, and the goal of accession to the bloc is written into the country's constitution.