Thousands protest Georgia’s halt to EU talks

Protests spread nationwide as clashes, firework outside parliament reported and effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili burned

TBILISI:

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, protesting the government’s decision to halt EU accession talks for four years on Saturday late.

Protesters built barricades, broke windows, and set off fireworks near parliament, prompting riot police to deploy water cannons and tear gas. A fire broke out in the parliament building, reportedly caused by fireworks, while an effigy of ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili was burned on the steps.

The demonstrations were the largest since the re-election of the Georgian Dream party, whose victory the pro-EU opposition claims was rigged. Protests also occurred in other cities nationwide. Georgian media reported over 100 arrests in Tbilisi after violent clashes between police and demonstrators. The country’s ombudsman condemned police brutality, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) expressed concern.

Georgia, traditionally pro-Western, has seen rising tensions over its shifting alignment towards Moscow. The ruling party accused the EU of blackmail and alleged that the opposition was attempting to incite a revolution similar to Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan uprising. Georgian Dream has framed its stance as necessary to maintain peace, accusing the opposition of risking war with Russia on behalf of the West.

Despite overwhelming public support for EU membership, the government’s decision has drawn backlash. Major businesses, civil servants, and over 200 diplomats signed letters condemning the move. Senior Georgian diplomats in the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, and Lithuania resigned in protest.

President Salome Zourabichvili, a supporter of EU membership with limited powers, announced she would not leave office after her term ends, calling the new parliament illegitimate. Georgian Dream, however, maintains that the October elections were fair, despite Western calls for an investigation into alleged irregularities.

The EU criticised the government’s decision, while the U.S. State Department suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia. Star footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli spoke out against the violence, calling for an end to aggression and reiterating Georgia’s desire for EU integration.

The protests reflect months of deteriorating relations between Georgia and the West. Earlier tensions arose over laws labelled as anti-democratic, including those targeting foreign-funded organisations and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite no formal diplomatic ties with Russia since the 2008 war, Georgia has recently restored direct flights and eased visa restrictions with Moscow.