‘Georgia without Ivanishvili’: Opposition launches new wave of protests – photos and video
New wave of protests in Georgia
On 25 October, thousands of people gathered in Tbilisi for a major opposition-organised protest under the slogan ‘Georgia without Ivanishvili’.
Waving flags and blowing horns, protesters gathered outside Tbilisi State University before setting off on a mass march towards Rustaveli metro station.
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With this rally, the opposition announced the start of a new wave of protests in Georgia. The next rally is scheduled for 28 November.
The date is symbolic: exactly two years earlier, the ruling Georgian Dream party publicly announced that it was suspending EU accession talks.
The announcement sparked ongoing pro-European protests, with demonstrators demanding fresh, free and fair parliamentary elections.
Key messages from opposition leaders
The rally’s organisers, leaders of the pro-Western opposition, addressed the demonstrators.
“This day, 28 November, represents a defeat for all of us as long as Bidzina Ivanishvili remains in power. The postponement of our integration into the European Union is a defeat for all of us. The indefinite delay of a brighter future for our children is a defeat for all of us,” said Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change.
“Ivanishvili’s group is trying to formally strip us of one of the most important achievements secured by the United National Movement – multiparty elections in Georgia. They now seek to legally establish a one-party dictatorship,” said Levan Tsutskiridze, leader of the Freedom Square party.
“It may seem that Bidzina Ivanishvili is making such a brazen decision that we should all despair. In fact, the opposite is true. By banning any alternative, Ivanishvili is acknowledging a crisis of his own legitimacy. He is admitting that he no longer trusts the Georgian people – that he fears the free choice of Georgian citizens, and quite rightly so,” said Tamar Chergoleishvili, leader of the Federalists movement.
Young people and other protesters were also among the speakers.
“Look at one another – you are surrounded by people who refuse to give up, who continue to fight for a better future for our country,” student Luka Mishveladze told the crowd.
Background
The 25 October rally was part of Georgia’s pro-European protest movement, which has been ongoing for nearly two years. The demonstration was announced and organised by the opposition.
The date was no coincidence: on 24 October 2024, Georgia held crucial parliamentary elections, with the country’s European future at stake.
The election results remain disputed both domestically and internationally. The vote marked the beginning of a major political crisis in Georgia, leading to strained relations with Western partners, sanctions and the suspension of multimillion-dollar aid packages.
The protests were met with violent police crackdowns, including beatings, torture and arrests of activists. Several packages of repressive laws were adopted, while pressure on the media and civil society intensified, including measures that effectively blocked access to funding.
Western institutions adopted numerous resolutions criticising these developments.
The political crisis entered a new phase when the ruling Georgian Dream party moved to ban pro-Western opposition groups it deemed unacceptable.
Almost all the parties that organised the 25 October rally and announced a new wave of protests were among those facing a proposed ban.
Новая волна протестов в Грузии
Новости, события в Грузии
