In recent years, Georgia’s leading party, the Georgian Dream (GD), has taken a bold approach that some say misleads a predominantly pro-European populace. While they passionately express a desire to join the European Union—a goal embedded in the nation’s constitution—the true actions of the party, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, reflect a different story. Ivanishvili, who amassed his wealth in Russia, seems to be aligning Georgia with Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian influence.
Earlier this year, the Georgian government passed a “foreign agent” law, sparking massive protests in Tbilisi. This legislation, which mirrors Russian laws aimed at stifling independent civil society groups, was followed by measures restricting LGBTQ+ rights, drawing from a similar playbook. Despite Georgia being granted EU candidate status in 2023, these undemocratic actions led Brussels to suspect deception by Ivanishvili’s political frontmen, causing them to pause membership discussions in June. Yet, as the October elections approached, GD officials maintained their vows to pursue EU membership.
The facade shattered last week when Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly appointed prime minister, surprisingly announced a halt on EU accession discussions for the current parliamentary term. If Kobakhidze thought he could quietly shift Georgia westward without resistance, the massive and widespread protests that erupted proved him wrong. Across the nation and in Tbilisi, the demonstrations have been unprecedented in scale. Georgia’s pro-western president, Salome Zourabichvili, although largely a ceremonial figure nearing the end of her term, has emerged as a rallying point for the protesters, calling for new elections.
The crackdown on these protests has been severe. Security forces have employed rubber bullets, teargas, and water cannons, leading to over 200 arrests and many hospitalizations. Protesters have been pursued and violently attacked, and a senior opposition leader has been detained.
Georgia is at a perilous juncture. Kobakhidze’s government was already mired in allegations of election fraud and voter intimidation last month. By disregarding the pro-European ambitions of most citizens, his administration has ignited a crisis reminiscent of Ukraine’s Maidan protests in 2014 and Belarus’s democratic protests in 2020. Worryingly, a Kremlin spokesperson recently described the protests as internal, drawing a comparison to the Maidan events.
After extending too much patience to the GD party, European leaders now face the challenge of how best to support a budding resistance confronting severe oppression. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have independently imposed targeted sanctions on Ivanishvili and key government officials. The EU might consider broader measures, such as suspending visa-free travel for Georgians. Although this could push Tbilisi further towards Moscow, ongoing violence in the capital and beyond may compel Europe to demonstrate that such actions will have significant repercussions.
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