TBILISI, Georgia — On Wednesday, law enforcement officials in Georgia conducted a raid on the offices of an opposition political party, marking a severe escalation in actions against dissent amid ongoing mass protests. This unrest arose after the ruling party decided to halt its discussions regarding Georgia’s potential membership in the European Union.
Over the past week, demonstrators have clashed with riot police, who utilized water cannons and tear gas in efforts to disperse the crowds. Protesters have actively resisted, throwing fireworks and constructing barricades in key areas of the capital. Since the protests began last Thursday, the police have detained over 300 individuals and more than 100 have sought medical treatment for injuries sustained during confrontations.
On the same day, the Coalition for Change opposition party reported that their headquarters had been raided by police, resulting in the arrest of their leader, Nika Gvaramia. The party released footage showing law enforcement officers forcibly placing Gvaramia into a police vehicle.
Local media outlets disclosed that the police targeted various other opposition groups and non-governmental organizations in their simultaneous operations.
Following the controversial elections held on October 26, which were viewed as a referendum on the country’s aspirations to join the EU, the ruling Georgian Dream party maintained control over the parliament. Opposition leaders, along with the pro-Western president, have accused the party of electoral misconduct, potentially in collusion with Russia, and have since boycotted sessions in parliament.
The protests gained renewed energy after the ruling party announced, on Thursday, that it was suspending the talks for EU accession. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili refused to endorse the official election results and has challenged them in the Constitutional Court, although her appeal was dismissed on Tuesday. Zourabichvili, whose role is largely ceremonial, has vowed to remain in her position beyond her impending term expiration later this month in order to advocate for a new parliamentary election.
The European Union had granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023, contingent upon the country meeting the organization’s set recommendations. However, the EU decided to freeze its accession applications and reduce financial assistance in June after the Georgian government passed a “foreign influence” law, perceived as a significant setback for democratic freedoms. This legislation mandates that organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad must register as entities “pursuing the interests of a foreign power,” paralleling a similar law in Russia aimed at discrediting dissenting organizations.
The Georgian government’s announcement regarding the suspension of EU talks arrived shortly after the European Parliament ratified a resolution condemning the October elections as neither free nor fair. On Monday, EU representatives reasserted their deep concerns regarding what they referred to as “continuous democratic backsliding” in Georgia.
In response to these developments, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the Georgian Dream party stated on Tuesday that the government would be open to reigniting EU accession discussions if the bloc ceased what he termed “blackmail.” He urged European leaders to engage in constructive negotiations, expressing readiness to sign agreements immediately if the conditions were favorable.
