For four consecutive nights, the streets of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and other cities were gripped by protests sparked by the government’s decision to freeze European Union accession negotiations until 2028.

The move has sparked negative reactions from citizens and international partners, who see it as a radical departure from Georgia’s pro-European trajectory.

The nation of 3.7 million faces growing political divisions, accusations of electoral fraud and concerns about democratic backsliding.

What is behind the protests in Georgia?

Thursday’s announcement by the ruling Georgian Dream party to suspend negotiations with the EU has sparked anger among citizens who overwhelmingly support EU membership.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the decision, saying they had not suspended anything and that it was a lie. “The only thing we rejected was the shameful and offensive blackmail, which actually constituted a significant obstacle to the European integration of our country.”

However, critics, including pro-Western President Salomé Zourabichvili, have accused the government of betraying national interests. “We are not demanding a revolution. We demand new elections, but under conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will no longer be distorted or stolen,” she said in an interview with P.A..

The government’s decision follows the European Parliament’s adoption of a resolution condemning Georgia’s parliamentary elections as neither free nor fair. Protesters say the government’s policies are increasingly aligning with those of Russia, in stark contrast to the aspirations of most Georgians.

At the heart of the crisis lies a deep distrust of the Georgian Dream party. Opposition leaders and civil society groups accuse the party of aligning with Russia and adopting policies reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.

In particular, in 2023, Georgian Dream
passed controversial “foreign agents” law require NGOs with more than 20 percent foreign funding to register as foreign agents. Furthermore, Parliament approved
legislation restricting LGBTQ rights.

Georgian President Zurabishvili, whose term ends this month, has become a prominent critic of the government. She called for the annulment of recent parliamentary elections, which she and international observers say were rigged.

“Ms. Salome Zourabichvili has four Fridays left (as president),” Kobakhidze said. “But of course, on December 29, she will have to leave her residence and hand over this building to a legitimately elected president,” he said. -he added.

Street clashes in Georgia

Demonstrations
broke out in at least eight citieswith tens of thousands of people gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. Protesters threw rocks and fireworks, while riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons.

On Sunday evening, the situation degenerated into physical clashes, leading to 44 hospitalizations, including 27 demonstrators, 16 police officers and a journalist. According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, 113 police officers have been injured since the protests began.

In Tbilisi, protesters burned an effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of Georgian Dream and a billionaire with significant ties to Russia. Opposition groups urged citizens to take paid leave to join protests, asserting their constitutional right to assembly.

The protests show no signs of abating as citizens demand accountability and a return to pro-European policies, with more than 3,000 teachers and hundreds of civil servants signing letters condemning the government’s actions.

What did the stakeholders say?

The decision to break off negotiations with the EU drew sharp criticism from the European Union and the United States. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: “We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future,” warning that the government’s actions would have direct consequences.

We stand alongside the Georgian people and their choice for a European future.

We condemn the violence against protesters and regret the ruling party’s signals not to continue Georgia’s path to the EU and the country’s democratic backsliding.

This will have direct consequences on the EU side.

– Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) December 1, 2024

The EU enlargement commissioner added that the suspension reflects “a change from the policies of all previous Georgian governments.”

The United States suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia, citing concerns about democratic backsliding. A statement from the U.S. State Department condemned the government’s excessive force against peaceful protesters, a sentiment echoed by Georgian human rights ombudsman Levan Ioseliani, who called the police actions “brutality.”

What does Georgia’s history tell us?

Georgia’s geopolitical orientation has long been contested. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the country sought closer ties with the West, culminating in being granted EU candidate status in December 2023.

However, 20 percent of its territory remains under Russian occupation in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Kremlin, although officially silent, has closely followed the unrest. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that Georgia is “rapidly moving along the Ukrainian path, into the dark abyss.”

Georgian Dream claims to protect the country from foreign interference and the fate of Ukraine. However, opposition groups say the party is capitulating to Moscow’s influence, sacrificing Georgia’s democratic aspirations and sovereignty.

With the contribution of agencies