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Georgia

Georgia protests, day 6: Hundreds of thousands demand return to European path. Photo/video. Live 

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Protests in Georgia hit sixth day

Hundreds of thousands of citizens across Georgia are protesting against the ruling party’s decision to halt the country’s integration into the European Union.

This marks a new wave of protests, building on the sustained demonstrations that began in October-November 2024. These earlier protests supported claims from the opposition, Georgia’s president, local and international observers, and the media, alleging that the October 26 parliamentary elections were rigged, rendering the newly elected parliament and government illegitimate.

  • What triggered the protest

    On the evening of November 28, 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a briefing following a meeting with the parliamentary majority and government team, announcing the decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028. He justified the move by accusing the European Union of using the issue to blackmail Georgia.

    Kobakhidze’s statement came in response to a European Parliament resolution that declared the October 26 parliamentary elections fraudulent, refused to recognise their results, and called for sanctions against leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

    Immediately after Kobakhidze’s briefing, spontaneous protests erupted in Tbilisi and other cities. Since then, thousands of people have taken to the streets daily, opposing Georgian Dream’s anti-European policies. Their primary demand is the scheduling of new parliamentary elections to bring about a change in power.

    Law enforcement has been using crowd control measures daily, including water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray. Hundreds of protesters have been brutally beaten, many suffering facial injuries and varying degrees of concussion. Hundreds more, including journalists, have been detained.

    The resistance extends beyond street demonstrations. A growing movement of dissent is sweeping the country, with hundreds of employees from ministries, state institutions, judicial and medical sectors, universities, schools, theatres, and museums joining in. Several Georgian diplomats have resigned in protest against the government’s policies. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili supports the resistance alongside opposition leaders.

  • The sixth night of protests and dispersals lasted until nearly 7 a.m. Video

    The sixth night of protests and crackdowns in Tbilisi lasted until nearly 7 a.m. The city center was cleared by around 4 a.m., but thousands of protesters marched to the Saburtalo district, where riot police ultimately dispersed them.

    This video shows a new tactic adopted by protesters — neutralizing gas canisters to reduce the spread of tear gas.

  • Ombudsman accuses police of torturing protesters

    Public Defender Levan Ioseliani stated, “Over five days of protests, staff from the Ombudsman’s office visited 201 people in detention centers and hospitals. Most of them suffered severe injuries to their faces, eyes, and heads. The location, nature, and severity of these injuries paint a clear picture of police using violent methods against citizens as a form of punishment. Deliberate and excessive violence intended to punish constitutes an act of torture.”

    The Ombudsman urged Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs to publicly condemn such actions by the police and take measures to ensure this does not happen again.

  • Caution: Riot police beat an unarmed protester in the center of #TbilisiProtests. Video

  • The battle on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi continues. Five photos

    The battle on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. On the sixth day, tens of thousands are protesting against the government’s decision to halt negotiations on Georgia’s EU membership.

    Photo by David Pipia / JAMnews

  • The last barricade on Rustaveli Avenue is holding its ground. Video

  • The last barricade on Rustaveli Avenue, with most of the protesters retreating through a thick cloud of tear gas. Video

    This appears to be the last barricade on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, with fireworks launched at advancing special forces. Most of the tens of thousands of protesters have retreated, unable to withstand the heavy tear gas.

  • Rustaveli Avenue in smoke as special forces use tear gas. Video

    Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi is once again shrouded in smoke. Special forces are advancing slowly as tens of thousands of protesters retreat. Tear gas, water cannons, and firecrackers from the protesters.

    Video by Yulia Kalaban / JAMnews

  • Three protesters in Tbilisi face pretrial detention, 293 detained overall

    Three young men detained during protests in Tbilisi have been placed in pretrial detention as part of a criminal investigation under Articles 187 (damage to property) and 353 (assault on a police officer) of the Criminal Code, Interpressnews reported. Two others involved in the same cases are awaiting court decisions.

    • A 21-year-old is accused of assaulting a police officer.
    • A 17-year-old minor is accused of throwing a burning object at the parliament building on November 29.
    • A 27-year-old man allegedly damaged wires for 112 surveillance cameras on the parliament building facade and set fire to their power supply.

    According to the Interior Ministry, as of 8:00 p.m. on December 3, a total of 293 protesters had been detained on administrative charges. Courts have reviewed 89 cases: 43 individuals were fined, 41 received administrative detention, and five were issued warnings.

    On Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, in front of the parliament. December 3, 2024. Photo by David Pipia / JAMnews.

  • Protests in Tbilisi dispersed as sixth night begins

    Video by Yulia Kalaban / JAMnews

     

  • Sixth day of protests outside parliament in Tbilisi

    The standoff outside Georgia’s parliament in Tbilisi has entered its sixth day. Tens of thousands of protesters are holding firm, demanding the country return to its path of European integration. They assert that the recent parliamentary elections were rigged, rendering the parliament and government illegitimate, and are calling for new elections.

    Special forces, positioned behind the parliament’s columns, are using water cannons to disperse the crowd. In previous nights, this was followed by tear gas and forceful crackdowns.

    Video by Julia Kalaban / JAMnews

     

  • Prime Minister proposes public debate with opponents

    Former Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze and former Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli, both critics of the ruling Georgian Dream party despite having served in its government, have accepted Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s call for a public debate.

    Georgian Public Broadcaster announced it is ready to host the debate on December 4 at 10:00 PM. The discussion will follow a two-on-two format, with Speaker Shalva Papuashvili joining Prime Minister Kobakhidze.

  • In Batumi, Georgia, a mock funeral was held for Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the ruling party and an oligarch

  • Baltic states' ambassadors summoned to Georgia's Foreign Ministry

    The ambassadors of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were summoned to Georgia’s Foreign Ministry after these countries imposed personal sanctions on the honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili; Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri; special forces chief Zviad Kharazishvili (known by the nickname Khareba); head of the patrol police Vazha Siradze; and seven other high-ranking officials from Georgia’s Interior Ministry. The sanctions were justified by the “suppression of legitimate protests in Georgia.”

    The full list of sanctioned individuals is available here.

    During the meeting with the ambassadors, concerns were expressed over “such a step, which does not align with the partnership relations between these countries and Georgia.” The Foreign Ministry’s statement emphasized: “Such decisions are an attempt to influence the institutions of a sovereign state, which is unacceptable and is perceived as interference in the country’s internal affairs.”

    The Foreign Ministry representatives stated during the meeting that “Georgia remains committed to international norms, and its state institutions operate in accordance with the constitution and international standards to ensure public order and safety in the country.”

    Baltic states' ambassadors summoned to Georgia's Foreign Ministry

  • Giorgi Gakharia: "The harshest violence against protesters comes not from police, but from informal groups"

    Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the opposition party “For Georgia” and former Prime Minister and Interior Minister, voiced serious concerns about masked individuals dressed in black, without police insignia, who are allegedly brutally attacking protesters. “We have well-grounded suspicions that these individuals, who show particular cruelty, do not belong to police units but are members of some informal groups. We call for these criminals to be unmasked,” Gakharia stated.

    He urged Bidzina Ivanishvili, the oligarch and leader of the ruling party, to “immediately stop the brutality and violence on the streets of Tbilisi.” Gakharia stated that, for five consecutive nights, masked individuals have been torturing citizens on Tbilisi’s streets with exceptional cruelty. “After illegal detentions, they beat people, often targeting the face and head. Depending on the victims’ condition, some are sent to detention centers, while many others are hospitalized. These criminals appear to enjoy impunity, also seizing personal belongings like phones and bags from the beaten individuals,” he added.

    Gakharia also called on the Ministry of Health to disclose detailed information on the number and condition of those injured in clashes with law enforcement over the past five nights.

    Giorgi Gakharia: "The harshest violence against protesters comes not from police, but from informal groups"

  • According to media reports, former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has left the leadership of the ruling party

    Reports suggest that he has “decided to focus on business.” For years, Garibashvili was considered one of the most loyal allies of Georgian Dream leader and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. However, the party has not officially confirmed this information.

  • President Salome Zourabichvili: "My duty is to lead the country to new elections"

    “I hoped the Constitutional Court would make the right decision for the country, but that was a mistake. Today, we find ourselves in a very dangerous situation. The country essentially has no constitutional authority left—the constitution has been stabbed and irreparably damaged,” President Salome Zourabichvili said on December 3, commenting on the Constitutional Court’s decision not to consider her lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the parliament elected on October 26 due to violations of ballot secrecy during the elections.

    “Today, only one legitimate institution remains in Georgia—the presidency. On the other side stands Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has completely usurped power in this country and established a regime of violence. My responsibility now is to lead the country to new elections, where a legitimately elected government can take office,” Zourabichvili declared.

  • US Embassy to Georgian Dream government: "Stop blaming others"

    The U.S. Embassy in Georgia addressed the State Department’s decision to suspend its strategic partnership with the country by posting a pointed message on Facebook: “Stop blaming others.”

    State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced the suspension on November 30, citing recent anti-democratic actions by the Georgian government that undermined the core principles of the bilateral partnership.

    Similarly, the European Union had earlier announced the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession process for the same reasons.

  • Constitutional court rejects president's lawsuit challenging election legitimacy

    The Constitutional Court has declined to consider the constitutional lawsuits challenging the legitimacy of the October 26 parliamentary elections. One lawsuit was filed by President Salome Zourabichvili, while the other was signed by 30 politicians. Both lawsuits allege violations of voter secrecy and the right to freely express electoral preferences during the elections.

    The court’s decision, published today on its official website, is final and cannot be appealed. The ruling was not unanimous, with judges Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze and Teimuraz Tugushi dissenting, as noted in the court’s statement.

  • Kobakhidze: UNM's attempt to stage 'Maidan' failed thanks to Interior Ministry

    At a press conference, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze blamed the opposition and civil society for the protests, stating: “The politicians who organized this violence but are hiding in their offices will, of course, not escape responsibility. Wealthy NGO leaders will also be held accountable under the law.”

    Kobakhidze also stated that he considers the president’s calls for schoolchildren to join the protests “immoral”:

    “Radical politicians and their media are actively participating in this campaign, and President Salome Zourabichvili is among those representing this radical opposition.”

    Kobakhidze claims that “wealthy non-governmental organizations have purchased special equipment for young people to organize and participate in protests.”

    “Summing up the five-day cycle of the failed ‘National Maidan,’ I want to once again thank the Ministry of Internal Affairs. On one side of the rallies were radical groups acting in a non-European manner. On the other side stood the police, operating by European standards—above European standards, as was clearly evident.”

  • Blogger and activist Dodi Kharkheli arrested in Tbilisi

    Digital marketing specialist and activist Dodi Kharkheli was arrested while dropping off her three-year-old son at daycare.

    Shortly after, law enforcement officers arrived at her home. The nature of the police actions at Kharkheli’s residence remains unclear. Criminal police are on the scene but have declined to comment to journalists.

    Blogger and activist Dodi Kharkheli arrested

  • 34 demonstrators arrested on December 2

    Those detained during the December 2 protest on Rustaveli Avenue have been transferred to the Zahehi temporary detention center.

    Some detainees have already been visited by their lawyers.

    Human rights defender Lasha Tkesheladze, who met with three detainees, reported that two of them reported violent treatment by special forces.

    “When they were arrested, they were first beaten within the cordon, then again in the car. One group of officers would abuse them, followed by another. They were cursed and humiliated. When I asked how the violence stopped, they said the officers seemed to tire out before their superior arrived. The detainees described the scene, saying, ‘The boss showed up, and they stood at attention, saying, ‘Boss, come and hit him once.’ He did, and then they stopped.’ This behavior isn’t just unlawful—it’s inhumane, dishonorable, and un-Georgian. Such actions cannot be tolerated,” Tkesheladze said, adding that two of the three detainees have visible injuries.

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