Protests continue for third night following Georgia’s announcement of EU talks suspension

Protests erupted in Georgia for a third consecutive night against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. More than 100 demonstrators were arrested, with clashes between protesters and police. The ruling Georgian Dream party’s victory in the October parliamentary election, seen as a referendum on EU aspirations, sparked major demonstrations and an opposition boycott of parliament. President Salome Zourabichvili expressed concerns about Georgia becoming a “quasi-Russian” state and criticized the government’s control over major institutions. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze labeled the protests as “violent demonstrations” but reiterated the commitment to European integration. European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the election as neither free nor fair, leading to EU lawmakers urging a rerun of the vote and imposing sanctions on Georgia. Georgian Dream, accused of becoming authoritarian and allied with Moscow, fired back against EU criticism, denouncing it as blackmail and rejecting budgetary grants from the EU until 2028. The party’s laws restricting freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights have raised concerns. Overall, political tensions and protests in Georgia reflect a struggle between pro-EU forces and those aligned with Russia, with implications for the country’s future direction.

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