South Caucasus: Pro-European protest in Georgia – situation is getting worse

The pro-European protests in the South Caucasus Republic of Georgia against the course of the national-conservative ruling party Georgian Dream are increasingly being characterized by violent riots in the capital Tbilisi. Demonstrators and police sometimes engage in street battles. According to reports from Georgian authorities, there were again numerous injuries and arrests as in the past few days. Russia, meanwhile, is drawing parallels to the pro-European revolution on Kiev’s Maidan a good ten years ago.

The protests in the capital Tbilisi and other large cities in the country are directed against the government’s departure from the EU course. Prime Minister Iraqi Kobachidze put EU accession negotiations on hold until 2028 last Thursday.

The Interior Ministry reported more than 200 arrests in the past few days. More protests are expected.

Georgia’s accession to the EU has been enshrined in its constitution. Criticism of the move is no longer just coming from the streets. According to media reports, employees of the foreign, defense and education ministries as well as some judges distanced themselves from the government’s decision in various statements. Universities temporarily stopped operating. The Georgian ambassadors to Bulgaria and the Netherlands submitted their resignations.

Foreign countries are looking at the South Caucasus Republic

There are also drastic reactions from abroad. The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania agreed on national sanctions against the Georgian leadership, as the foreign ministers announced verbatim in posts on the X platform. The punitive measures should therefore be directed against those who suppress legitimate protests.

The USA is temporarily suspending its strategic partnership with the South Caucasus republic. The ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to suspend the EU accession process is a “betrayal of the Georgian constitution,” said the US State Department spokesman.

In a statement, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen regretted the government’s decision against the EU and its values. The European Union still stands by the Georgians and their decision for a European future, she also wrote at the weekend.

Russia draws parallels with Ukraine

Russia is also looking at the protests in its small neighboring country. “We have seen similar events in a number of countries,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia repeatedly accuses the West of initiating so-called color revolutions in the post-Soviet space.

“The most direct parallel that can be drawn is the events on the Maidan in Ukraine,” Peskov said, according to Russian agencies. At that time, people in Kiev demonstrated on Independence Square for the country’s EU course and ultimately overthrew the Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych.

Allegations of fraud in parliamentary elections

In the parliamentary election at the end of October, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud, the electoral commission declared the ruling Georgian Dream party the winner with around 54 percent. That already triggered protests against the official result. The pro-Western opposition and the pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili do not recognize the result and are calling for a repeat of the election. The opposition does not want to accept their mandates and does not enter parliament. Because of Zurabishvili’s pending lawsuit at the Constitutional Court, there is a dispute about the legality of the parliament. The Georgian Dream is currently meeting there without the opposition.