Georgia’s decision to suspend its efforts to join the European Union (EU) has sparked widespread unrest, with tens of thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets to demand new elections.
The protests were ignited by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement on Thursday that Georgia would freeze its bid to join the EU until at least 2028, citing concerns about foreign interference. This decision marks a stark departure from earlier commitments to secure EU membership by the end of the decade and comes amidst growing fears of Georgia’s drift toward pro-Russian policies under the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Public opposition has been fueled by allegations of democratic backsliding, including electoral irregularities and the adoption of controversial laws targeting non-governmental organizations and LGBTQ+ rights. The move to halt EU talks has drawn condemnation from international observers and domestic critics alike, who argue it undermines Georgia’s sovereignty and aspirations for closer ties with the West.
Demonstrations erupted in Tbilisi, with protesters gathering on Rustaveli Avenue near the parliament building. The protests escalated on Saturday night when an estimated 100,000 people formed barricades around the legislature. Videos posted online showed protesters using makeshift fireworks launchers against riot police, who responded with water cannons, tear gas, and baton charges.
Georgian man and his firework gattling gun pic.twitter.com/N5OUIU3VpR
— Visual feast (@visualfeastwang) December 1, 2024
Demonstrations have since spread to at least eight cities and towns across Georgia. In the port city of Poti, protesters blocked a major access road, while in Khashuri, demonstrators attacked Georgian Dream party offices, throwing eggs and tearing down party flags.
President Salome Zourabichvili, a vocal critic of the Georgian Dream party, has called for new elections and accused the government of losing its mandate to lead. “This unrest is not a revolution; it is stability,” Zourabichvili said, urging the EU to mediate the political crisis.
In contrast, Prime Minister Kobakhidze defended the government’s position, dismissing U.S. and EU criticism of police actions as external interference. He also claimed, without providing evidence, that foreign actors, including Russian citizens and a British national, were involved in instigating violence during the protests.
The EU and the U.S. have expressed alarm over the developments. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, condemned the use of force against demonstrators and reiterated concerns about Georgia’s democratic trajectory. “We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future,” Kallas said in a statement.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Georgian Dream politicians and security officials over the government’s violent crackdown. The U.N.’s special rapporteur on freedom of assembly, Gina Romero, called the reports of police brutality “disturbing” and urged authorities to respect citizens’ right to peaceful protest.
