Protesters squared off with riot police and were blasted with water cannons | AFP via Getty Images
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Tbilisi, Georgia—Night after night, the heart of Georgia’s capital pulses with defiance. Tens of thousands of protesters, draped in the blue and gold of the EU and the red and white George Cross, fill Rustaveli Avenue, demanding their government reverse what they see as a dangerous drift toward authoritarianism and Moscow’s shadow.
The protesters accuse the ruling party, Georgian Dream, of abandoning Georgia’s hard-won European aspirations for the Kremlin’s sphere of influence. The government denies the accusations, but recent decisions—culminating in a freeze on European Union negotiations and the suspension of strategic ties with the United States—have stoked fears of a growing alliance with Russia.
Clashes and Chaos in Tbilisi
Protests have engulfed Rustaveli Avenue, the site of past pivotal moments in Georgian history, but this wave feels different. Demonstrators clash nightly with riot police armed with water cannons and tear gas. Fireworks explode against the façade of the imposing parliament building as whistles and chants of “No to Russia!” echo through the cold air.
Violence has escalated on both sides. Police report over 100 injuries in their ranks, while opposition lawyers describe protesters being brutally beaten in detention, many suffering serious head and facial injuries. Journalists, too, have been targeted in the chaos.
“The scale of people being hunted down and beaten individually has never been seen before here,” said Lasha Dzebisashvili, a politics professor at the University of Georgia. Levan Ioseliani, Georgia’s public defender, has condemned the government’s crackdown as “brutality” and an abuse of power.
A Constitutional Crisis Unfolds
EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock-Bidzina Ivanishvili has spoken of an unknown Western “global war party” he claims is pushing Georgia to war
The protests erupted after Georgian Dream declared it would suspend talks with the EU for at least four years. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, dismissing calls for dialogue, claimed—without evidence—that the demonstrations were orchestrated by foreign interests.
Opposition leaders and protesters demand fresh elections, accusing the government of rigging the last vote. The ruling party insists it won fairly and accuses the opposition of illegitimacy.
Reuters : Although her role is largely ceremonial, pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili has galvanised Georgia’s opposition
Caught in the political maelstrom is President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-Western figure with limited power under Georgia’s constitution. She has emerged as a figurehead for the protests, denouncing the election results as a “Russian special operation.” Her term nears its end, but she vows to remain a stabilizing force, drawing fierce criticism from Georgian Dream.
Russia’s Shadow and the EU’s Rejection
While the Georgian Dream vehemently denies ties to Moscow, its actions bear troubling echoes of Russian influence. Controversial laws targeting civil society and LGBTQ+ groups have been branded as Kremlin-inspired, and revelations about Russian propaganda agents covering the election have only fueled public anger.
Georgian Dream’s billionaire founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, made his fortune in Russian banking and steel, a connection that raises suspicions despite the party’s denials of Kremlin allegiance.
The timing of Georgian Dream’s decision to halt EU negotiations handed Russian President Vladimir Putin a propaganda victory. Within hours, Moscow seized on the announcement, drawing comparisons to Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution in 2014—a pro-EU uprising that led to Russian military intervention.
The People’s Resistance
“This is not just about politics—it’s about our future,” said Nika Gvaramia, an opposition leader with the Coalition for Change. “We are fighting for a European Georgia, not a Russian satellite.”
The protests have spread beyond Tbilisi to other cities, including Batumi, Poti, and Zugdidi, uniting Georgians from all walks of life. Diplomats, public servants, and even business leaders have joined the opposition, underscoring the scale of the backlash.
As temperatures near freezing, the nightly gatherings show no signs of abating. Protesters demand not just accountability but also new elections under international oversight. “If Georgian Dream is sure they won the elections, let’s go with new ones,” Gvaramia challenged.
Uncertain Outcomes
The crisis has left Georgia at a crossroads. Analysts like Thomas de Waal of Carnegie Europe caution against oversimplifying the government’s ties to Russia, noting that fear of Moscow may drive its actions more than allegiance. But Moscow’s interests are clear: a weakened, divided Georgia suits its agenda far more than a pro-Western government.
For now, Georgian Dream clings to power, banking on the protests losing steam. Some government supporters, like university lecturer Levan Gigineishvili, pin their hopes on a geopolitical shift in 2025 with a potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency.
But for many Georgians, January is too far away. The stakes are existential—a choice between the democratic ideals of Europe and the autocratic grip of Russia.
“We are shaking this government,” Gvaramia said, standing amid the throngs of protesters. “This is a liberation fight, and we know who we are fighting: Russia.”