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Hundreds of thousands of Georgians have been protesting across the country since late November, following the government’s decision to freeze EU-accession negotiations. The latest wave of protests came on the heels of those that erupted in late October over the results of parliamentary elections, which the opposition and the President of Georgia deemed fraudulent. Seemingly unfazed, the ruling "Georgian Dream" party is pressing on with its policy of isolation and shifting Georgia's course toward the Kremlin's orbit.
The Russia-friendly Georgian Dream government freezes negotiations with the EU, igniting mass protests across Georgia
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, of the Georgian Dream party, announced on November 28 that EU accession talks were off from Tbilisi’s agenda until 2028 and that Georgia would also reject all EU budget grants.
Kobakhidze claimed that the EU is using the negotiation process "as a tool of blackmail" and "to divide society", demanding not reforms from Georgia but "steps that undermine dignity”. These include "the repeal of the NGO transparency law, the repeal of the law against LGBT propaganda, the imposition of sanctions against Russia and the collapse of Georgia's economy by its own hands, the release of [former President] Mikheil Saakashvili, and so on”.
While the government claims it is not abandoning the European path but merely shielding the country from "external blackmail”, in practice, this means that implementing numerous reforms aimed at protecting human rights and increasing the independence of courts, prosecutors, and other state institutions is no longer a priority for the authorities.
Kobakhidze's statement was issued shortly after the European Parliament rejected the results of Georgia's parliamentary elections and called for sanctions against the leaders of Georgian Dream. Prior to that, the EU had made it clear that accession negotiations with Georgia would remain frozen until the Georgian Dream begins pursuing policies aligned with European values. However, the party portrayed the situation as though it was Tbilisi rejecting negotiations with Brussels, rather than the other way around.
After Irakli Kobakhidze's announcement, Georgians took to the streets of Tbilisi and other cities, expressing disagreement with the government's policies. In some cases, the protests escalated into clashes with law enforcement. The police used water cannons, tear gas, and disproportionate force to disperse demonstrators.
In just five days, more than 200 participants in the protests have been detained, many of whom sustained serious injuries.
The decision by the ruling "Georgian Dream" party to suspend the country's EU integration has also sparked opposition from employees of several state agencies and companies. A total of 228 employees of Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed an open letter, stating that "without the support of Western partners, Georgia is left to face threats alone, which are particularly intensified given the current international and security dynamics”.
Hundreds of employees from the Ministries of Defense, Education, Health, and Justice have also issued statements urging the government not to halt the EU integration process. Additionally, about 20 judges declared that they oppose any step that contradicts the constitutional article outlining Georgia's course toward EU and NATO membership.
After the first night of the protest and the brutal intervention by the security forces, the Prime Minister held a briefing during which he thanked the Ministry of Internal Affairs for their service, mentioned "systemic violence" from the demonstrators, and called the beating of citizens by special forces "isolated incidents”. He also stated that the country's authorities would not allow a scenario similar to Ukraine's Maidan, and accused European politicians and “agents” of fostering the violence.
"Unlike Ukraine in 2013, Georgia is an independent state with strong institutions and, most importantly, experienced and wise people. The Maidan scenario cannot be realized in Georgia. Georgia is a state and will not allow this”, declared Kobakhidze.
The ruling party did not stop at violently dispersing protests. On December 4, police conducted raids on the offices of several opposition parties, including "Ahali”, "Droa”, "Girchi – More Freedom”, and the youth wing of the opposition party "United National Movement”. Additionally, Nika Gvaramia, founder of the opposition party "Ahali" and a leader of the "For Change" coalition, along with coalition member Gela Khasaia, were detained. According to Mtavari TV, a total of seven people were arrested by security forces on December 4.
The US suspends its strategic partnership with Georgia, while European politicians discuss future sanctions against Georgian Dream leaders
Amid the dispersal of peaceful demonstrators in Tbilisi and the announcement by Georgian Dream of a pause in EU integration talks, on November 30 the United States declared the complete suspension of its strategic partnership with Georgia, which was signed on January 9, 2009.
"By suspending Georgia's EU accession process, Georgian Dream has rejected the opportunity for closer ties with Europe and made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin. The US also condemns the excessive use of force against demonstrators in Tbilisi and calls on all parties to ensure that protests remain peaceful”, according to a statement made by the US State Department.
The European Union also expressed deep concern over Georgia's decision to suspend EU accession negotiations. The new High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that the recent decisions and actions of Georgian Dream would have "direct consequences from the European Union”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, announced the three Baltic States are imposing sanctions against representatives of Georgia's ruling party and senior officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Amid deteriorating relations with the West, Irakli Kobakhidze expressed hope for improved relations with both the US and the EU "instead of blackmail”, claiming that the government’s foreign policy priority is EU integration, while his Foreign Affairs Minister, Maka Bochorishvili, said that the decision to halt EU membership negotiations until 2028 does not signify a complete abandonment of the idea of European integration.
"When we say that we will not put this issue on the agenda until 2028, it does not exclude the possibility that, in the event of a political decision from the other side—which is a prerequisite for starting negotiations—we will certainly enter the process. However, this political decision must be made by the EU. This position was either misunderstood or perceived as if we are halting EU integration. On the contrary, we want to avoid a scenario where, if the European Council in December decides not to open negotiations with Georgia at this stage, this decision is interpreted by the Georgian public as the end of the country's European integration, as if everything is over and we have no path forward with Europe”.
However, critics of Georgian Dream view such statements as a ploy. They argue that Georgia's candidate status for EU membership, obtained a year ago, requires reforms across various areas of national legislation, which inherently involves negotiations. At this stage, experts believe the Georgian authorities are steadily steering the country toward international isolation and into the Kremlin's embrace.
The controversial elections that extended the Georgian Dream’s grip over Georgia
The current demonstrations are an extension of ongoing protests that began in late October following the parliamentary elections in Georgia. According to official data from the Georgian Central Election Commission, the ruling Georgian Dream party, already in power for 12 years, secured 53.93% of the votes, obtaining a majority of 89 out of 150 MPs seats.
Aside from the ruling party, three opposition alliances and one party passed the 5% electoral threshold. None of them recognized the election results, and they all decided to boycott the parliament.
Opposition parties also addressed a joint letter to EU High Representative Josep Borrell and the foreign ministers of EU countries, asking them to create an EU-led mission to investigate the elections, and to refrain from recognizing the Georgian parliament's legitimacy until the results of the international investigation are revealed.
The opposition also organized several mass protests in Tbilisi and other cities in Georgia. One of the leaders of the opposition coalition "Strong Georgia”, Mamuka Khazaradze, proposed forming an alternative legislative body to defend the people's interests. President Salome Zourabishvili, an opponent of the ruling party, refused to acknowledge the results of the elections and called for new ones.
"This was a total falsification and confiscation of your votes. All the methods we've seen in different countries were used, along with today's technologies to legitimize falsifications. This is unprecedented. We have witnessed and fallen victim to a Russian special operation, a hybrid war waged against our people and our country”, Zourabishvili declared.
On November 19, Zourabishvili asked the Constitutional Court to annul the election results for violations of the principles of universal and secret suffrage. The following day, 30 opposition deputies filed a similar lawsuit. Numerous violations have also been reported by most local NGOs that observed the elections, including Transparency International Georgia, "Fair Elections”, the Association of Young Lawyers, and others. Both the US and the EU expressed concern with the elections, with the former pointing out that international observers haven’t declared the elections neither free, nor fair.
Russia, on the other hand, was happy with the results and officials in Moscow echoed those of the Georgian Dream by claiming that a “Maidan” is being organized. On December 4, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that "as for the further prospects of normalizing bilateral relations with Georgia, we are ready to proceed along this path to the extent that Tbilisi is prepared for it”.
Zakharova added that "We believe that the people of Georgia have the foresight and faith not to become pawns in someone else's dirtiest and very dangerous game”.
Presidential Elections: A New Front in the Government-Protester Standoff
Amid the ongoing political crisis, local experts suggest that the upcoming presidential elections, scheduled for December 14, could become a catalyst for the protests.
On November 27, the ruling "Georgian Dream" party nominated former football veteran and outspoken Western critic Mikheil Kavelashvili as its presidential candidate. Kavelashvili is a leader of the "People's Power" faction, which formally split from "Georgian Dream" but continues to champion its most vehemently anti-Western policies in parliament. Notably, "People's Power" was behind last year's push for a Georgian version of the Russian law on foreign agents. Kavelashvili himself has frequently spoken out against what he calls Western "interference" in Georgian affairs.
The opposition has interpreted Georgian Dream's decision to nominate Kavelashvili as a continuation of the government’s anti-Western agenda.
For the first time, this year the president will not be elected by the public but by an electoral college. According to the Constitution, the college will consist of 300 members: 150 MPs, members of the Supreme Councils of Adjara and Abkhazia (in exile), and over 100 representatives of local self-government bodies from various regions. Sixty-one opposition deputies, who have refused to recognize the legitimacy of the parliament and renounced their mandates, have already declared they will not participate in the elections.
This, however, will not prevent Georgian Dream from securing its candidate’s presidency. Under the new rules, a candidate is considered elected if they receive at least two-thirds of the votes from the full electoral college.
It is likely that the Georgian Dream aims to complete the process as quickly as possible so that on New Year’s Eve, the population will hear congratulations from a new president loyal to the ruling party.
Meanwhile, sitting President Salome Zourabishvili has announced that she will not step down when her term ends. Zourabishvili declared herself the "only independent and legitimate institution" in the country and stated that she does not recognize the legitimacy of the parliament formed after the October elections.
"There is no legitimate parliament, and therefore an illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president, nor can there be an inauguration. My mandate remains valid until a legitimately elected parliament lawfully elects someone to replace me. I am with you and will remain with you”, Zourabishvili said.
Experts note that this situation could take a radically new turn. Zourabishvili, who initially became president with the support of Georgian Dream and was for a long time an unpopular politician in the country, has recently topped trust ratings among the population. This gives her a strong advantage: high public support. However, experts warn that Georgian authorities may attempt to resolve this situation by force.
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