By Davit Kachkachishvili and Necva Tastan Sevinc
TBILISI/ISTANBUL (AA)— French President Emmanuel Macron has contacted Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream Party, to discuss ways to help resolve the ongoing tensions caused by protests, the party said on Wednesday.
Macron initiated the phone call, and the discussion between him and Ivanishvili was focused on the political unrest in Georgia, according to a readout from the Georgian Dream Party.
"Macron expressed his concern over the situation in Georgia and his willingness to contribute to de-escalating tensions," it said.
During the hour-long call, Ivanishvili thanked Macron for taking the initiative, and the two leaders agreed to continue their discussions in the coming days.
Macron condemned the intimidation of civil society and opposition representatives, as well as the violence perpetrated by security forces against peaceful demonstrators and journalists, the statement said.
He demanded the release of all those arbitrarily arrested, as well as respect for freedoms of expression and assembly, according to a statement from the French Presidency.
He advocated for an inclusive dialogue between all political parties and civil society representatives.
- Government halts EU negotiations amid protests
Protests erupted in Georgia after the European Parliament called for new parliamentary elections following the Oct. 26 elections.
Opposition groups and pro-EU protesters took to the streets, resulting in widespread demonstrations.
On Nov. 28, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that, in response to European political interference and alleged extortion with EU funds, Georgia would suspend its EU membership negotiations until 2028, although it would continue working toward EU membership by 2030.
This decision sparked outrage, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets of Tbilisi, and demonstrations lasted 14 days throughout Georgia.
- International reactions to Georgia’s decision
The US State Department responded by suspending strategic relations with Georgia, while the EU's new High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas expressed solidarity with the anti-government protests.
The Baltic States imposed travel bans on certain Georgian officials, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on Georgian government officials, including Kobakhidze.
As the protests in Georgia continue, the US State Department has warned of potential additional sanctions.