TBILISI, Georgia — Early Tuesday morning, law enforcement in the capital of Georgia took action to dismantle a tent encampment established by protesters who sought to express their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the previous month’s parliamentary election. The demonstrators called for a new election after the October 26 vote allowed the ruling Georgian Dream party to maintain power, despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Many citizens perceived this election as a crucial moment for the nation’s aspirations to join the European Union, which has triggered a series of significant protests since the results were announced.
The protesters set up camp in a prominent area of Tbilisi, committing to a continuous presence until their demands for new parliamentary elections were met. As the police intervened to disperse the protesters, tensions escalated, leading to confrontations and multiple arrests, according to eyewitness accounts. Among the protesters, some were seen waving European Union flags, embodying their call for alignment with European values and standards.
President Salome Zourabichvili, who has rejected the election’s official outcomes, announced her intent to file a legal appeal in the Constitutional Court. She contends that the electoral process violated key constitutional principles, particularly regarding the secrecy and universality of the vote. Although her role is primarily ceremonial, Zourabichvili has indicated that Georgia has succumbed to pressure from Moscow regarding its European integration aspirations.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by the enigmatic billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, has faced criticism for its growing authoritarian tendencies and its perceived alignment with Moscow. Critics argue that the party has recently enacted laws that mirror Kremlin tactics to limit free speech and suppress LGBTQ+ rights.
On Sunday, demonstrators took their protests to the streets, blocking a main avenue leading into central Tbilisi. Nika Melia, the head of the opposition group Coalition for Change, expressed optimism that the continuous demonstrations could signify the emergence of a robust protest movement aimed at toppling Ivanishvili’s regime.
In a significant setback for Georgia’s aspirations, the European Union has placed the country’s membership application process on hold since June, which followed the passage of a controversial law by the parliament. This law mandates that organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from overseas must register as engaging in activities on behalf of a foreign power, echoing a similar law used in Russia to discredit dissenting organizations.
The Central Election Commission reported that the Georgian Dream party secured approximately 54% of the votes in the October elections. However, its leadership has dismissed allegations of electoral misconduct. Observers from Europe noted that the electoral climate was marked by divisiveness and was marred by incidents of bribery, dual voting, and physical confrontations during the election process.