Tbilisi, Georgia – Widespread protests continue to grip Georgia as the government’s decision to suspend negotiations for European Union membership sparks outrage.
For the fourth consecutive day, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, voicing their anger with fireworks and stones.
The protests, which have left dozens hospitalized, erupted after the ruling Georgian Dream party’s victory in the October 26 parliamentary elections—a result widely perceived as a referendum on Georgia’s EU aspirations.
Critics allege the vote was rigged with Russia’s involvement, as Moscow seeks to maintain its influence over Tbilisi.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev described the situation as an “attempted revolution,” drawing comparisons to Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan protests. On Telegram, Medvedev wrote, “Georgia is moving rapidly along the Ukrainian path, into the dark abyss. Usually, this sort of thing ends very badly.”
The Maidan protests in Ukraine, which began in late 2013, followed a pro-Russian government’s decision to abandon EU agreements, leading to widespread violence and eventual regime change.
Medvedev’s comments highlight concerns that Georgia may face a similar trajectory of political instability and potential conflict.
Georgia’s Interior Ministry reported that 27 protesters, 16 police officers, and one journalist required hospitalization during the latest demonstrations.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed allegations that European integration efforts had been halted but warned against further unrest.
However, President Salome Zourabichvili, a staunch pro-Western figure, offered a starkly different narrative. She described Georgia as becoming a “quasi-Russian state,” blaming the Georgian Dream Party for consolidating control over key institutions.
“We are not demanding a revolution,” Zourabichvili told the Associated Press. “We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure the will of the people is not misrepresented or stolen again.
Georgia has always resisted Russian influence and will not accept having its vote and destiny stolen.”
In December 2023, the EU granted Georgia candidate status contingent on the implementation of democratic reforms. However, progress stalled earlier this year after the Georgian government passed a controversial “foreign influence” law, which critics view as a step back for democratic freedoms. The EU subsequently suspended financial aid and put Georgia’s accession on hold.
As the protests show no signs of abating, Georgia’s path to EU membership appears increasingly uncertain. Demonstrators are demanding new elections and accountability, with many fearing the nation could drift further into Moscow’s orbit.
This ongoing crisis underscores the delicate balance Georgia must navigate between its European ambitions and the geopolitical pressures exerted by Russia.
