US suspends strategic partnership with Georgia

In a statement posted on social network X on November 30, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said: "The decision to suspend the Georgian Dream party's accession to the EU is a betrayal of the Georgian Constitution. We condemn the excessive use of force against Georgians exercising their right to freedom of protest and have suspended our strategic partnership with Georgia."

The US move comes two days after Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on November 28 that Tbilisi would not consider EU accession discussions a top priority until at least 2028.

RT quoted Kobakhidze as noting that although Georgia aims to become a member of the EU, the process should be carried out on fair terms. He also accused the EU of using the negotiations to "blackmail" Georgia and interfere in the country's internal affairs.

In response to the government's announcement, protests broke out in several cities across Georgia, with rioters clashing with police in the capital Tbilisi. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has expressed support for the protesters, calling the country's current parliament "illegitimate" and refusing to resign before her term ends on December 16.

Violence escalated outside the Georgian parliament building on the evening of October 30. Law enforcement used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds, while protesters threw bottles, eggs and fireworks at police, marking the third consecutive day of unrest. Several protesters were arrested as tensions rose.