Georgia Protests Erupt Over EU Membership Suspension Amid Government Tensions

Protests in Georgia continued with clashes between protesters and security forces. Special units used water cannons and smoke bombs to disperse protesters, who responded with fireworks.

According to “Civil Georgia,” protesters were pushed back from Rustaveli Avenue on Sunday morning but gathered on Chavchavadze Avenue, urging people to join them instead of going to work.

Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili stated that the country is becoming “almost like Russia” and that the ruling party, “Georgian Dream,” controls most of the state institutions.

“We have seen that the country lacks independent institutions—no judiciary, no central bank, and of course, no parliament,” she said. “We are moving rapidly toward a model similar to Russia,” stated the Georgian president.

Zurabishvili rejected Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s claim that the protests are “violent demonstrations.” Kobakhidze asserted that Tbilisi remains committed to European integration. However, he claimed that certain “foreign entities” seek to “Ukrainianize” Georgia, referencing the 2014 Maidan revolution in Ukraine.

“We do not demand a revolution. We demand new elections under conditions that ensure the people’s will is not distorted or stolen,” said Zurabishvili. “Georgia has always resisted Russian influence, and it will not accept election fraud or loss of its destiny,” emphasized the president.

Protests began on Thursday after Prime Minister Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would halt discussions for EU membership until the end of 2028.

Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse protesters in front of the parliament on Friday night, leading to over 100 arrests. Protests continued into Saturday night.

In the October 26 parliamentary elections, “Georgian Dream” claimed victory according to official results. However, opposition parties and Zurabishvili disputed the results, alleging fraud, and are boycotting the new parliament session. Zurabishvili believes the newly elected parliament is unconstitutional and is seeking to annul the election results through the Constitutional Court.

Experts in constitutional law believe decisions made by the new parliament are invalid until a ruling on Zurabishvili’s annulment request is made.

The president joined the protesters on Thursday, accusing the government of declaring war on its people. In her address on Friday, she called on the police not to use force against protesters. On Saturday, she announced she would not leave her presidential post after her term ends in December and would remain until a legitimate parliament is elected.

Hundreds of government officials, including those from the Foreign, Defense, and Education Ministries, as well as several judges, made joint statements protesting Kobakhidze’s decision.

About 160 Georgian diplomats criticized this move, arguing it contradicts the constitution and could lead to international isolation. Several Georgian ambassadors, including those in Lithuania, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands, resigned in response to “Georgian Dream” policies.

More than 100 schools and universities suspended academic activities to protest the government’s decision to halt EU membership talks.