Pro-European protest in Georgia - situation comes to a head

The pro-European protests in the South Caucasus republic of Georgia against the course of the national-conservative ruling party Georgian Dream are increasingly characterized by violent riots in the capital Tbilisi.

Protesters and police are sometimes engaged in street battles. According to reports from the Georgian authorities, there were once again numerous injuries and arrests, as in previous days. Russia, meanwhile, is drawing parallels with the pro-European revolution on the Kiev Maidan a good ten years ago.

The protests in the capital Tbilisi and other major cities in the country are directed against the government's departure from the EU course. Last Thursday, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze put EU accession negotiations on hold until 2028.

The Ministry of the Interior has reported more than 200 arrests in recent days. Further protests are expected. Georgia's accession to the EU is enshrined in its constitution. Criticism of the withdrawal is therefore no longer only coming from the streets.

According to media reports, employees of the foreign, defense and education ministries as well as some judges have distanced themselves from the government's decision in various statements.

Universities have temporarily suspended their operations. The Georgian ambassadors in Bulgaria and the Netherlands submitted their resignations.

Foreign countries look to the South Caucasus republic

There have also been drastic reactions from abroad. The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania agreed on national sanctions against the Georgian leadership, as the foreign ministers announced in identical posts on the X platform.

The punitive measures are to be directed against those who suppress legitimate protests.

The USA is temporarily suspending its strategic partnership with the South Caucasus republic. The decision by the ruling Georgian Dream party to suspend the EU accession process is a "betrayal of the Georgian constitution", the US State Department spokesperson announced.

In a statement, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regretted the government's decision against the EU and its values. Nevertheless, the European Union stands by the Georgians and their decision for a European future, she also wrote at the weekend.

Russia draws parallels with Ukraine

Russia is also looking at the protests in the small neighboring country. "We have seen similar events in a whole series of countries," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia repeatedly accuses the West of instigating so-called color revolutions in the post-Soviet space.

"The most direct parallel that can be drawn is the events on the Maidan in Ukraine," said Peskov, according to Russian agencies. At that time, people demonstrated on Independence Square in Kiev in support of the country's EU course and ultimately overthrew the Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych.

Allegations of falsification in parliamentary elections

In the parliamentary elections at the end of October, which were overshadowed by allegations of fraud, the electoral commission declared the ruling Georgian Dream party the winner with around 54 percent. This alone sparked protests against the official result.

The pro-Western opposition and the pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili do not recognize the result and are demanding a re-run of the election. The opposition does not want to accept their mandates and does not enter parliament.

There is a dispute over the legitimacy of parliament due to a pending complaint by Zurabishvili to the Constitutional Court. The Georgian Dream is currently meeting there without the opposition.

SDA