Georgia is bracing for another wave of anti-government protests as Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer and member of the ruling Georgian Dream party, is set to be appointed president. His expected election by the parliament on Saturday comes amid growing unrest following disputed October elections and the government’s decision to halt European Union accession talks until 2028.
A Controversial Candidate Amid Boycotts
Kavelashvili, now 53, is the sole candidate for the presidency. Once a celebrated footballer, he transitioned to politics after being disqualified from leading the Georgian football federation. He co-founded the People’s Power party, a faction often accused of spreading anti-Western propaganda. Despite his party’s alignment with Georgian Dream during the October elections, it now positions itself as a “healthy opposition” to the “radical foreign-funded opposition.”
The opposition parties, citing election fraud, have boycotted the parliament and rejected Kavelashvili’s candidacy, labeling the process illegitimate. Georgia’s outgoing president, Salome Zourabichvili, has condemned the election as a “travesty,” asserting that the parliament has lost credibility. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has dismissed Zourabichvili’s criticisms, accusing her of harming the country’s interests and emphasizing her imminent departure when her term ends on December 29.
Protests and Public Backlash
The discontent that began after the October elections escalated dramatically on November 28, when the government announced the suspension of EU accession negotiations. A majority of Georgians support EU membership, a goal enshrined in the constitution. The decision has fueled nightly protests in Tbilisi and other cities, with demonstrators waving EU flags and demanding new elections.
Friday saw pop-up protests across the capital involving professionals from IT, law, public service, and the arts. “We are standing here to create a legal state once and for all, to respect the provisions of the constitution and human rights,” said Davit Kikaleishvili, a lawyer participating in the demonstrations.
International Condemnation
The ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, faces mounting accusations of steering the country closer to Russia’s sphere of influence. The EU and the US have criticized the government for its democratic backsliding, citing mass arrests and allegations of police brutality. Transparency International reports that over 460 protesters have been detained in recent weeks, with more than 300 allegedly subjected to ill-treatment or torture.
Footage of thugs assaulting journalists has further stoked outrage. The EU has condemned the “brutal, unlawful force” used by police, and US visa restrictions have already been imposed on Georgian officials. Protesters are calling for sanctions on top government officials and Ivanishvili himself.
Escalating Tensions
As Kavelashvili’s appointment nears, tensions in Tbilisi have reached a boiling point. Protesters accuse the government of orchestrating campaigns of harassment against civil society activists, with reports of arbitrary arrests and assaults outside activists’ homes. Theatre workers who joined Friday’s protests chanted, “The police are everywhere, justice is nowhere.”
In a symbolic act, two protesters scaled a construction crane, waving the Georgian flag as crowds cheered below. These acts of defiance underscore the determination of the Georgian public to challenge the government’s authoritarian turn.
A Crossroads for Georgia
Saturday’s parliamentary vote, involving a 300-member electoral college dominated by Georgian Dream loyalists, is expected to spark further unrest. The international community will closely monitor the situation, with EU foreign ministers set to discuss measures against the Georgian government on Monday.
Georgia stands at a crossroads. The outcome of these protests and the international response will determine whether the country can reclaim its democratic aspirations or succumb further to authoritarian control. For now, the streets of Tbilisi remain a battleground for Georgia’s future.
