Explained: What’s behind the massive protests in Georgia?

For four consecutive nights, the streets of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, and other cities have been gripped by protests sparked by the government’s decision to freeze talks on joining the European Union until 2028.

This move has drawn backlash from citizens and international partners, who view it as a stark departure from Georgia’s pro-European trajectory.

The nation of 3.7 million people faces deepening political divides, accusations of electoral fraud, and concerns over democratic backsliding.

What is behind the protests in Georgia?

The ruling Georgian Dream party’s announcement on Thursday to suspend EU negotiations ignited anger among citizens who overwhelmingly support EU membership.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the decision, stating that they had not suspended anything and that it was a lie. “The only thing we have rejected is the shameful and offensive blackmail, which was, in fact, a significant obstacle to our country’s European integration.”

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However, critics, including pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili, accused the government of betraying national interests. “We are not demanding a revolution. We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again,” she said in an interview with AP.

The government’s move followed the European Parliament’s adoption of a resolution condemning Georgia’s parliamentary elections as neither free nor fair. Protesters claim the government’s policies increasingly align with Russia, a stark contrast to the aspirations of most Georgians.

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At the heart of the crisis lies deep mistrust in the Georgian Dream party. Opposition leaders and civil society groups accuse the party of aligning with Russia and enacting policies reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.

Notably, in 2023, Georgian Dream passed a controversial “foreign agents” law requiring NGOs with over 20 per cent foreign funding to register as foreign agents. Additionally, parliament approved legislation curbing LGBTQ rights .

Georgia’s President Zourabichvili, whose term ends this month, has emerged as a prominent critic of the government. She has called for the annulment of recent parliamentary elections, which she and international observers claim were rigged.

“Mrs. Salome Zourabichvili has four Fridays left [as president],” said Kobakhidze. “But of course on December 29 she will have to leave her residence and surrender this building to a legitimately elected president,” he said.

Clashes in the streets in Georgia

Demonstrations erupted across at least eight cities , with tens of thousands gathering in Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue. Protesters threw stones and fireworks, while riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons.

By late Sunday, the situation had escalated to physical confrontations, leading to 44 hospitalisations, including 27 protesters, 16 police officers, and one journalist. According to Georgia’s Interior Ministry, 113 officers have been injured since the protests began.

In Tbilisi, demonstrators burned an effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgian Dream and a billionaire with significant ties to Russia. Opposition groups urged citizens to take paid leave from work to join the protests, stating their constitutional right to assembly.

The protests show no signs of abating as citizens demand accountability and a return to pro-European policies, with over 3,000 teachers and hundreds of civil servants signing letters condemning the government’s actions.

What have stakeholders said?

The decision to halt EU talks has drawn sharp criticism from the European Union and the United States. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, “We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future,” warning that the government’s actions would have direct consequences.

We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future.

We condemn the violence against protesters & regret signals from ruling party not to pursue Georgia's path to EU and democratic backsliding of the county.

This will have direct consequences from EU side.

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) December 1, 2024

The EU’s enlargement commissioner added that the suspension reflects “a shift from the policies of all previous Georgian governments.”

The US has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia, citing concerns over democratic backsliding. A US State Department statement condemned the government’s excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, a sentiment echoed by Georgia’s human rights ombudsman, Levan Ioseliani, who labelled the police’s actions as “brutality.”

What does Georgia’s history tell us?

Georgia’s geopolitical orientation has long been contested. Following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, the nation sought closer ties with the West, culminating in its EU candidate status in December 2023.

However, 20 per cent of its territory remains under Russian occupation in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Kremlin, while officially silent, has closely monitored the unrest. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev claimed Georgia is “moving rapidly along the Ukrainian path, into the dark abyss.”

Georgian Dream maintains that it is protecting the country from foreign interference and the fate of Ukraine. However, opposition groups argue that the party is capitulating to Moscow’s influence, sacrificing Georgia’s democratic aspirations and sovereignty.

With inputs from agencies