Day 15 of pro-European protests in Georgia: Key events LIVE

Social media buzzes with controversy over protest performance on December 9. A performance by protesters during the December 9 demonstration continues to spark heated debate on social media. Protesters carried a coffin along Rustaveli Avenue, inside which was an image of the leader of the ruling party, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. The coffin was later set on fire in front of parliament amid chants of “Long live Georgia!”

Protesters in #TbilisiProtests carried a coffin along Rustaveli Avenue, later ceremoniously burning it in front of the parliament amidst chants of “Long live Georgia!” The crowd, now tens of thousands strong, has filled the main stretch of the avenue, making it nearly impossible… pic.twitter.com/CJIdVUjYVN

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) December 9, 2024

The Georgian Orthodox Church immediately condemned the protest performance. Leaders of the Church, followed by members of the ruling party, claimed that the protesters had performed a satanic ritual, as the image of Christ’s face was depicted on the coffin and subsequently burned.

However, scholars have stepped in to clarify the situation. Mtvarisa Tarkhnishvili, an expert on the ancient East, identified the engraving on the image as a figure from Chinese mythology, Qiao Min. This identification was later confirmed by other experts. “In my opinion, the clergy and authorities should have gathered the necessary information first before panicking and inciting others to panic,” Tarkhnishvili wrote on her Facebook page.

The protest’s organizers later revealed that the coffin was not real but merely decorative. They purchased it from Chinese Alibaba for about $40 and admitted that they had not even examined the design.

Cold weather in Tbilisi, as more protesters gather in front of parliament. Icy winds right now and further drops in temperature expected, along with the possibility of snow. Despite the harsh weather, more people are gathering in front of parliament. Their demands are threefold: to return the country to the path of European integration, to hold new and fair parliamentary elections, and to release those detained and brutally beaten during the protest arrests.

Video David Pipia/JAMnews

Cold weather in #TbilisiProtests as more protesters gather in front of parliament. Icy winds right now and further drops in temperature expected, along with the possibility of snow. Despite the harsh weather, more people are gathering in front of parliament. Their demands are… pic.twitter.com/zHAA9yY2ek

— JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) December 12, 2024

A joint statement was issued by members of the global network International Press Institute (IPI), signed by 78 leading editors, journalists, and media representatives from around the world.

“We, members of the IPI global network and IPI’s Central and Eastern Europe independent media network, strongly condemn the targeted, deliberate, and often brutal attacks on journalists by state security forces and private individuals during the current wave of protests in Georgia. The protests were sparked by the government’s decision announced on November 28 that Georgia would halt its EU membership negotiations until the end of 2028.

In these dark times for press freedom and democracy in Georgia, we stand in full support of the courageous journalists who continue their vital work of informing the public despite an incredibly hostile and dangerous environment. Their work is indispensable—not only for informing Georgia’s public, but also the world, of the unfolding events.

Journalists have been viciously beaten, verbally assaulted, threatened, and detained. Their equipment has been confiscated and destroyed, and their work repeatedly obstructed. At the same time, government smear campaigns to discredit independent journalism have continued unabated.

According to local media freedom organizations, since November 28, at least 90 journalists have faced physical assault, verbal abuse, or obstruction as police violently dispersed the protests. Most of the injured journalists represent independent and government-critical outlets based in the capital, Tbilisi.

This unprecedented assault on the media in Georgia comes amid a rapid deterioration of press freedom and a broader scaling back of democratic freedoms in the country. Over the past few months, the media environment has become increasingly hostile and dangerous, as legal and institutional tools have been weaponized to harass and curtail critical voices.

Despite these grave circumstances, we are inspired by the bravery and resilience of Georgia’s free media. Your work is vital, and your courage is an inspiration to us. Once again, we stand in full solidarity with you,” the statement reads.

Photo by David Pipia/JAMnews

A delegation of six European Parliament members is currently in Tbilisi. One of the members, Rasa Juknevičienė, stated that the visit is a “fact-finding mission.”

“We want to hold meetings and assess the situation on the ground to draw the right conclusions. We are not here to support any particular political party but to support Georgia as a state at a very important and decisive moment in its history. We want to express solidarity with the citizens of Georgia fighting for their European future,” said Juknevičienė.

The delegation held closed-door meetings with the president, opposition coalitions, non-governmental organizations, and media representatives. They agreed with claims that the parliamentary elections held in Georgia in October were neither free nor fair. Therefore, they believe new parliamentary elections must be organized.

“Georgia was granted EU candidate status under certain conditions, one of which was the holding of free and fair elections. However, these elections did not meet those standards. Therefore, we call on the Georgian authorities to hold new parliamentary elections in line with European standards,” said European Parliament member Michal Šerba after his meeting with President Salome Zourabishvili.

In addition to the European Parliament delegation, Swedish MP and member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Gustav Götberg is also in Georgia. The day before, Götberg made the following statement: “Just arrived in Tbilisi to show support for the Georgian people, its European aspirations and the peaceful protests against the authoritarian regime. GD violent crackdown is unacceptable. Georgia is Europe and Europe is Georgia. No oligarch can change this essential fact.”

Vato Bjalava is an active participant in the pro-European protests in Georgia. His friends reported that he was seized by police while walking his dog near his home on Abashidze Street in Tbilisi. “They tied his dog to a tree and took him away without even letting him bring the dog home,” his friend Natia Chikovani wrote on social media.

“Before the arrest, he called his brother to ask if he needed to buy anything at the store. When he was gone for too long, Soso, his brother, called him, but his phone was turned off. Soso then went outside and found the dog tied to a tree.

Store employees said that Vato had a bag of purchased goods in his hand and had to leave it behind at the store during the sudden arrest,” friends recounted.

Vato Bjalava is a research fellow at the Rondeli Foundation. The day before his arrest, he was summoned to court and questioned as a witness in an investigation into “organized group violence” and “public calls to violent action.”

After returning home, Bjalava wrote on Facebook: “The questions were very general. I swore not to disclose the contents of the conversation and cannot share details. This entire process is designed to intimidate and pressure the population.”

The European Union Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, stated that the new leaders of various EU institutions “are ready to move from words to action regarding Georgia.” He announced that the situation in the country will be discussed on December 16 at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, followed by a session of the EU Council.

Herczyński reiterated that intensive negotiations are underway in Brussels to “coordinate various measures” concerning Georgia, including the possible suspension of visa-free travel for individuals with certain categories of passports. “As for sanctions, their implementation requires the unanimous agreement of all EU member states. I hope everyone will come to a decision on the necessity of punishing those responsible for gross human rights violations in Georgia,” Herczyński said.

Opposition blocs *Coalition for Change*, *Unity – National Movement*, *Strong Georgia*, and the party ‘Gakharia – For Georgia’ issued statements declaring the presidential election set by the ruling party for December 14 illegitimate.

“There is only one solution to the severe political crisis the country is facing: the conduct of new, fair parliamentary elections. This is our primary demand. We do not recognize the results of the rigged October 26 election, nor do we recognize the self-proclaimed government or any of its decisions. Instead of parliamentary elections, [honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, oligarch] Ivanishvili orchestrated a constitutional coup against the citizens of Georgia and the country’s Euro-Atlantic future.

An illegitimate parliament does not have the authority to elect a president. Therefore, Salome Zourabichvili will remain the President of Georgia, the Supreme Commander of the Defense Forces, and the highest representative of the country in foreign affairs,” reads the joint statement from the three opposition blocs.

The party ‘Gakharia – For Georgia’ also confirmed that it “will not participate in the unlawful presidential election process and will not recognize the decisions of the de facto illegitimate parliament, including the unlawfully elected president.”

This time, Georgia’s president will not be elected by the people but by a special electoral college. Details on how this process will unfold can be found here.

All four opposition forces that made statements had won seats in parliament during the October 26 election and their representatives were supposed to join the electoral college. However, all four blocs denounced the election as fraudulent and renounced their mandates.

Garibashvili has been absent from the public sphere for several days, with reports confirming that he was taken to the hospital with injuries. The opposition TV channel Mtavari reported that Garibashvili was subjected to physical violence by members of his own political team. “There are reports of an alleged physical altercation within the oligarch’s team,” the channel stated.

Garibashvili denied these claims, stating that he sustained a minor injury during training and accusing Bachiashvili of spreading falsehoods. “This disgusting lie was invented by the traitor Bachiashvili. Everything he has said is slander, including claims that I left the party.”

*Giorgi Bachiashvili was once part of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s inner circle and was referred to in the media as “the oligarch’s personal banker.”

“We are shocked by the violence used by the police and informal groups against protesters, journalists, and opposition representatives,” stated Gareth Ward, the British Ambassador to Georgia, in a video message in Georgian. He called for a swift and independent investigation into these actions.

The ambassador reiterated that the UK is suspending its support program for the Georgian government. “This means the cessation of funding for the Peace Fund under the Ministry of Reconciliation and Civic Integration, as well as a reduction in military cooperation. Britain will no longer assist the Georgian Ministry of Defense in establishing a cybersecurity center. Additionally, we will limit political meetings, communications, and, in general, strategic dialogue.”