Georgia’s re-appointed PM Kobakhidze has stated that the country will delay the start of EU accession talks for 4 years until 2028. The report points out that the EU noted that Georgia’s crackdown on civil society prompted a “de facto” halt to its efforts to join the bloc. The main opposition parties have intensified protests in central Tbilisi. An opposition leader, Zurab Japaridze was arrested. The number of detained people has now increased to 224. The Georgian lari depreciated to a 2-year low of ca. 2.88 to the USD.