Georgia pro-EU protesters defiant as thousands rally for 11th day

TBILISI: Thousands of pro-Europe protesters rallied on Sunday in Georgia against the government´s decision to shelve European Union accession talks, marking the 11th consecutive day of demonstrations amid a post-election crisis.

The country´s pro-Western opposition and the president rejected the ruling Georgian Dream party´s claimed victory in October 26 parliamentary polls and tens of thousands had taken to the streets against alleged electoral fraud.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze´s shock decision last week that EU-candidate Tbilisi will not seek the opening of accession talks triggered a fresh wave of protests, which met with a tough police response.

Kobakhidze has labelled the protesters as opposition-controlled “violent groups”, claiming their attempted revolution “has failed” and -- using language reminiscent of Kremlin rhetoric against its political opponents -- threatened to punish “liberal fascists”.