TBILISI, Georgia — Following four consecutive nights of protests in Georgia’s capital, over 200 individuals have been taken into custody. This unrest was ignited by the government’s recent decision to halt discussions regarding EU membership after the bloc criticized the parliamentary election held on October 26.
The ruling party, Georgian Dream, claimed victory in this election, which many viewed as a crucial test of the nation’s commitment to joining the European Union. The opposition, which has decided to boycott parliament, alongside the president, expressed serious concerns about the integrity of the election process, alleging it was manipulated with assistance from Moscow.
On Sunday, tens of thousands gathered outside the parliament building for the fourth consecutive night of demonstrations. Some protesters engaged in clashes, launching fireworks at law enforcement, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.
In a statement released on Monday, Georgia’s Interior Ministry reported that 224 individuals were detained for administrative offenses, with three facing criminal charges. Medical assistance was required for 113 police officers, with three officers admitted to the hospital due to injuries sustained during the unrest.
President Salome Zourabichvili raised alarms about the treatment of those arrested, revealing that many suffered injuries, including fractures and facial trauma. In messages shared on social media, she referenced lawyers who represent the detainees, claiming they faced systematic abuse from the moment of arrest until their arrival in detention facilities.
Although the president’s role is largely ceremonial and she is set to resign by the end of the year, she affirmed her intent to remain until a new president is elected by a legitimate parliament. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the Georgian Dream party warned that any illegal actions would face strict legal repercussions.
Kobakhidze insisted that claims of a halt to European integration processes are incorrect, stating that the government only rejected what he termed “shameful and offensive blackmail” against its EU candidacy. The government’s suspension of EU accession talks followed the European Parliament’s resolution denouncing the validity of the recent elections.
Additionally, Kobakhidze brushed off the recent statement from the U.S. State Department, which criticized the government’s decision to step back from pursuing EU membership, characterizing it as an attempt by the outgoing administration to burden the incoming one with complex issues, much like the situation in Ukraine.
As protests escalated, Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S., David Zalkaliani, resigned, joining a growing list of diplomats stepping down since the protests began. Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reached out to Zourabichvili to express their condemnation of the violence against demonstrators, asserting that the government’s actions contradict the people’s will.
On the same day, Kallas, along with EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos, issued a statement highlighting a significant departure from the policies of previous Georgian administrations, stating that the government’s actions do not align with the democratic aspirations of the Georgian people as outlined in their Constitution.
The statement emphasized serious concerns about the ongoing democratic decline within Georgia, urging authorities to uphold the rights to assembly and expression, while also advising restraint against peaceful protests. The EU previously awarded Georgia candidate status in December 2023, contingent upon meeting specific recommendations, but has since stalled accession talks and financial support after the controversial passing of a “foreign influence” law seen as a setback for democratic freedoms.
The Georgian Dream party has increasingly enacted repressive legislation resembling Russian laws, limiting free expression and restricting LGBTQ+ rights. Recently, a law prohibiting same-sex marriages, adoptions by same-sex couples, and favorable representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in media took effect.
In a statement to media on Saturday, Zourabichvili remarked that Georgia is transitioning into what she termed a “quasi-Russian” state, asserting that the ruling party is gaining control over the primary institutions of power. She clarified that the protests are not calls for revolution but rather demands for new elections conducted under conditions that safeguard the integrity of the people’s will.