Saturday March in Tbilisi: growing emigration. “Protests in Georgia” video podcast
Pro-European “Saturday Marches” in Tbilisi
“Georgia is losing its future to emigration” was the slogan of the 37th “Saturday March” in Tbilisi, part of the pro-European protests that have continued for almost two years.
According to the national statistics office, more than 114,000 Georgian citizens left the country in 2025 alone.
For more than a year and half – since November 2024 – continuous protests have been taking place in Georgia, with demonstrators demanding that the country return to the path of European integration. The results of the parliamentary elections held in autumn 2024 are still not recognised by part of Georgian society.
Every evening thousands, and often tens of thousands, gather in Tbilisi and several other cities. Over this time dozens of participants have been detained, many have faced criminal charges, and some have been sentenced to prison terms.
For the first time in the history of independent Georgia, the country has up to 150 prisoners of conscience, including women. Among them is Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of the popular outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti.
In 2025 she was sentenced to two years in prison for slapping a police officer. Protesters demand the release of all political prisoners and the repeal of all anti-democratic laws adopted over the past two years.
To suppress the protests, the ruling Georgian Dream party has increasingly tightened repression against civil society and the media. However, protests in various forms continue.
News in Georgia
