Global nightly unrest: From New Caledonia riots to Tbilisi Protests
- Riots after Paris's decision. Buildings and cars were ablaze. In the capital of New Caledonia, Noumea, on Wednesday morning, gunshots were heard, and the authorities decided that schools would remain closed, reports Reuters Agency. Overnight, riots erupted over a law that expands the list of voters who can cast their votes in New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France. More than 130 arrests were made, and several dozen riot participants were detained and will be brought to court, the French High Commission of the Republic in New Caledonia informed early on Wednesday morning, quoted by France24.
Despite protests, the French National Assembly in Paris approved the changes. Legislators voted 351 to 153 in favour of the amendment, allowing French residents who have lived on the island for 10 years to vote in provincial elections. Opponents of the law argue that it will benefit pro-French politicians and further marginalize the indigenous people, the Kanaks, reports the Associated Press. The French Pacific territory authorities announced a two-day curfew on Tuesday and prohibited gatherings. According to information provided by Reuters, local authorities stated that schools will remain closed on Wednesday. Some of the facilities were damaged as a result of overnight riots.
- Estonia refutes reports. There are no talks about sending troops. The Estonian government is not conducting talks about dispatching its armed forces to Ukraine, reports PAP. Multi-subject support for Ukraine continues, but the deployment of troops there is not being discussed, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Tuesday evening, refuting reports by the American portal Breaking Defense. Breaking Defense reported that the Estonian government "seriously discusses" the possibility of sending its soldiers to western Ukraine to take over "rear area tasks" from the Ukrainian army, i.e., unrelated to direct combat. The Estonian president’s advisor on security, Madis Roll, allegedly made such a statement to the American service. In an interview with the domestic broadcaster ERR, Roll said he had never told any journalist that the government was deciding to send Estonian troops to Ukraine. His message was that Estonia does not exclude any option of helping Ukraine.
- More favourable positions. Complicated situation in the Kharkiv region. In response to intense bombardments and aggressive assault by Russia, Ukrainian forces made a decision to perform a maneuver involving moving their units to more strategic positions in the areas of Lukianka and Vovchansk, located in the Kharkiv region, we read in the latest report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "In some sectors in the Lukianka and Vovchansk areas, as a result of the enemy's fire and storming actions, to save the lives of our soldiers and avoid casualties, units carried out a maneuver and moved to more favourable positions," declared the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- Paralysis in Tbilisi. Demonstrators blocked the capital of Georgia. Thousands of demonstrators blocked the main intersection in Tbilisi on Tuesday to oppose the foreign agents law. Earlier, activist Dawit Kacarawa was brutally beaten during detention. Mtavari Channel published photos of the beaten Dawit Kacarawa, leader of the Anti-Corruption Movement. Masked officers brutally detained Kacarawa, documented by the Tbilisi Life channel on Telegram, posting footage of the event. Dawit Kacarawa is currently in the hospital. The exact number of arrests is unknown. However, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, it is 13 people who "crossed the boundaries of peaceful protest and did not comply with officers’ commands".
- Unexpected move by Blinken. He played in a Kyiv bar. An unusual guest at the Kyiv bar, Barman Dictat - Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State of the USA, appeared on stage and played the song "Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young. Blinken was not alone - a local rock band accompanied him. Blinken used this performance as an opportunity to express his support for Ukraine. As he suggested, it was his way of paying tribute to the Ukrainian nation, which "are fighting not just for a free Ukraine but for the free world."
