Protests Erupt in Georgia Against Government’s EU Membership Delay
Thousands of people in Georgia protested on Friday evening against the government’s decision to pause talks for joining the European Union until 2028. The protesters built makeshift barricades and used firecrackers for defense. The protests are ongoing.
Many believe that the ruling party, “Georgian Dream,” is pro-Kremlin and is bringing Georgia closer to Russian influence. The opposition and the country’s president criticized the decision to abandon EU membership talks as unconstitutional, while the Prime Minister labeled the protests as an attempt at revolution.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze condemned the protests, stating that the responsibility for the unrest lies with several European politicians and local agents. He claimed that foreign radicals aim to destabilize Georgia and initiate a situation akin to Ukraine in 2013, but he assured that Georgia would not allow this to happen.
Protests also erupted in other cities. Demonstrators stormed the national television building, demanding the resignation of its current leadership and an end to pro-government propaganda. Some universities in Tbilisi temporarily suspended classes due to the demonstrations.
Georgia’s President Salome Zurabishvili supports the protesters, claiming a resistance movement has emerged. She met with foreign ambassadors, urging them to apply international pressure for new parliamentary elections. Zurabishvili stated, “I will remain president to the very end. I am the only legitimate authority in this country.”
The context includes the recent parliamentary elections, where the ruling pro-Russian party allegedly gained a majority, but the opposition claims the results were fraudulent. With changes to the constitution, future presidential elections will be determined by the parliament, which is currently under the influence of the “Georgian Dream” party.
Public opinion shows that about 80 percent of Georgians want EU membership. President Zurabishvili called for further protests, emphasizing that the people do not accept a Russia-dominated Georgia.
Currently, at least 107 people have been arrested during the protests. France and several European countries expressed concern over the suppression of demonstrations and urged Georgian authorities to respect citizens’ right to peaceful protest.