Georgia is ablaze with protests for a third consecutive night, fueled by the government’s abrupt decision to halt negotiations for European Union membership. This move follows a contentious parliamentary election in October, widely viewed as a referendum on Georgia’s EU aspirations, and has ignited a firestorm of dissent. The demonstrations, marked by intense clashes between protesters and police, have resulted in over 100 arrests, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.
Eyewitnesses, including Associated Press reporters, documented scenes of police brutality in Tbilisi, with officers chasing and physically assaulting demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building. The crackdown extended to members of the press, with police deploying water cannons to disperse crowds along Rustaveli Avenue, the capital’s central boulevard. The intensity and scale of these protests highlight the deep divisions within Georgian society.
The root of the unrest lies in the controversial victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the October 26th election. The opposition vehemently alleges the vote was rigged with the assistance of Russia, Georgia’s former imperial power, aiming to maintain Tbilisi within its sphere of influence. This claim is echoed by President Salome Zourabichvili, who, in an interview with the Associated Press, expressed grave concerns about Georgia’s trajectory.
“We have seen happening in the country — which is a country where we do not have any longer independent institutions, not the courts, not the Central Bank, and not, of course, the parliament,” she stated, adding, “We have been moving more and more rapidly into a quasi-Russian model.” Her remarks directly contradict Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who dismissed the protests as “violent demonstrations” while simultaneously asserting Georgia’s commitment to European integration. This conflicting messaging further deepens the political crisis.
Kobakhidze’s statement also accused unspecified “foreign entities” of attempting to orchestrate a “Ukrainization” of Georgia, invoking the imagery of the 2014 Maidan revolution. President Zourabichvili countered these accusations, clarifying that the protests are not a call for revolution, but rather a demand for new, fair elections. “Georgia has always resisted Russian influence and will not accept having its vote stolen and its destiny stolen,” she emphasized.
The EU’s role in this escalating crisis is significant. Hours before the Georgian government’s announcement to suspend EU accession talks, the European Parliament issued a resolution condemning October’s election as neither free nor fair. The resolution highlighted Georgia’s continued democratic backsliding and placed the blame squarely on the ruling Georgian Dream party. This condemnation, along with reports from European election observers detailing bribery, double voting, and physical violence during the election, has further fueled the protests.
The EU’s decision to grant Georgia candidate status in December 2023 was contingent upon meeting specific recommendations. However, concerns over the passage of a controversial “foreign influence” law, perceived as a threat to democratic freedoms, led to a suspension of accession talks and a cut in financial aid earlier this year. The European Parliament’s resolution called for a rerun of the parliamentary vote within a year under strict international supervision and an independent election administration, along with potential sanctions against the Georgian government.
The Georgian Prime Minister responded with sharp criticism, accusing EU politicians of a “cascade of insults” and declaring that Georgia would reject any EU budgetary grants until the end of 2028. This defiance underscores the deep chasm between the Georgian government and the European Union. Critics of Georgian Dream, a party founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Russian-linked billionaire, accuse the party of growing authoritarianism and leaning toward Moscow’s influence. Recently enacted laws mirroring those used by the Kremlin to suppress freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights further reinforce these concerns, painting a complex picture of a nation grappling with its geopolitical future and internal political strife.
