The government of Georgia arrested 107 individuals on Friday during a second day of nationwide protests triggered by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to delay European Union membership talks. This marks a significant escalation in a country increasingly divided over its political direction.
The Interior Ministry stated that the arrests were due to “disobedience to lawful police orders and petty hooliganism,” adding that protesters had thrown stones, fireworks, and other objects at law enforcement officers. In the clashes, 10 officers sustained injuries. A day earlier, authorities reported that 32 police officers were wounded, and 43 protesters were detained.
Tensions Erupt Over Delayed EU Accession
The unrest began after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Thursday that Georgia would postpone its EU accession talks until 2028. The decision, which critics view as a betrayal of Georgia’s European aspirations, provoked an outcry from pro-EU opposition leaders and citizens.
Kobakhidze later attempted to clarify his statement, asserting that EU membership remains a priority, but realistically achievable only by 2030. However, his remarks failed to pacify an increasingly restless population and sparked demonstrations outside the parliament in Tbilisi and other cities.
In a televised address, President Salome Zurabishvili, a pro-Western leader often at odds with the Georgian Dream government, lent her voice to the resistance. “The resistance movement has begun. … I stand in solidarity with it. We will remain united until Georgia achieves its goals: to return to its European path and secure new elections,” she declared.
Protests Met with Force
Friday’s protests saw riot police deploy tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators who threw eggs and fireworks at government buildings. Violence escalated as police moved in to clear the area, using batons to subdue protesters. Independent media outlet Pirveli reported that one of its journalists was hospitalized with severe injuries.
The crackdown drew condemnation from international observers. Amnesty International criticized the government for a “punitive attack on the right to peaceful assembly,” while the Council of Europe decried the “brutal repression,” urging Georgia to remain committed to European values.
France, Britain, Ukraine, and several other nations also voiced concern over the escalating tensions.
Opposition Boycotts Parliament
The protests follow contentious parliamentary elections held on October 26, which the pro-EU opposition alleges were fraudulent. Monitors from independent organizations reported evidence of widespread electoral irregularities, and the European Union has demanded a thorough investigation.
Georgian Dream, in power for over a decade, has been accused of moving the country closer to Russia while distancing it from Europe. Despite these allegations and calls for accountability, the ruling party’s MPs unanimously voted for Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister.
Opposition leaders, boycotting parliament, insist that new elections are the only solution to Georgia’s legitimacy crisis. Zurabishvili has sought to annul the election results through the constitutional court, aligning herself with the resistance movement.
A Nation at a Crossroads
Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU have been a cornerstone of its post-Soviet foreign policy. However, recent years have seen a growing perception that Georgian Dream is undermining these ambitions. Critics point to the government’s apparent tilt toward Moscow, raising concerns about Georgia’s trajectory as it grapples with internal divisions.
The protests underscore a deepening rift between the government and its pro-European citizens. For many, EU membership represents a path to democratic reform and economic prosperity. Yet, the ruling party’s hesitance has fueled fears of a return to Russian influence.
As the crisis unfolds, Georgia’s political future hangs in the balance. Whether the resistance movement can force new elections or pressure the government into recommitting to its European path remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the stakes have never been higher for this Black Sea nation striving to define its place in the world.
