I. Overview of Protests
Protests have continued in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, for approximately one year, following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's announcement on November 28, 2024, of a four-year halt to Georgia's pursuit of European Union (EU) membership. Initial large-scale demonstrations resulted in police interventions. Participants, such as Giorgi Arabuli, have expressed concerns about Russian influence, citing experiences from the 1990s post-civil war period.
II. Government Actions and Legislative Changes
The Georgian Dream government has implemented measures affecting public assembly. Rustaveli Avenue, a main thoroughfare in Tbilisi, has been a frequent site for gatherings, which police have routinely cleared. The government has enacted laws including:
- Fines for blocking roads.
- Criminal charges against young protesters.
- Legislation allowing up to 14 days' imprisonment for a first offense of blocking traffic, with repeat offenses potentially leading to up to a year in jail.
Nata Koridze, whose husband Zura Japaridze is among six opposition figures jailed, stated that the government's actions have not stopped the protests. The six individuals were imprisoned for up to eight months and barred from public office for two years after refusing to testify before a parliamentary commission concerning alleged crimes by a previous administration. Prosecutors have since filed new charges, including sabotage and aiding foreign powers, against eight opposition leaders, potentially carrying sentences of up to 15 years. These charges relate to alleged communications with Western partners regarding government practices.
III. EU Relations and Government Stance
Georgia's EU membership trajectory has been assessed by the EU. The EU's annual enlargement report indicated that Georgia is currently considered an EU candidate "in name only." Pawel Herczynski, the EU ambassador to Georgia, stated that Georgia is not on a path to become an EU member state by 2030 or later.
The Georgian government has expressed critical views toward its foreign critics. Parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili has accused the EU of "ideological and political dictates," asserting that "today's Brussels does not want a Georgia that is like us." He also stated, "They want a country standing on one foot," and that "The policies and approaches in Brussels must be changed. For them, the Georgian people and their choice mean nothing, zero."
IV. Elections and Domestic Legislation
The Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, secured 54% of the vote in parliamentary elections last year. Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) security mission reported several irregularities, including alleged intimidation, coercion, and pressure on voters, particularly public sector employees. All opposition parties subsequently boycotted parliament.
Legislation passed without opposition includes:
- Increased fines for protesters who block roads.
- A broadcasting law with new restrictions.
- A law on foreign grants requiring government commission approval for foreign funding to civil society and media organizations.
Hundreds of protesters have received fines, and dozens have been jailed. Andro Chichinadze, an actor, was sentenced to two years for allegedly organizing protests; his theater has closed in solidarity.
V. Allegations of Russian Influence
Among pro-European groups in Georgia, there is a perception that the government's actions align with Russian interests. Points cited include:
- The ruling party's founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, made his fortune in Russia in the 1990s.
- New legislation has been compared to Russian laws targeting civil society.
- The government has not imposed sanctions on Moscow regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
- There has been an increase in anti-Western rhetoric from government officials.
Georgian leaders have rejected these characterizations, describing their approach to Russia as "pragmatic" and emphasizing their stated duty to maintain peace with their northern neighbor. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has denied pro-Russian bias, stating his government is "responsible to Georgian society which wants to keep peace in the country."
Mzia Amaglobeli, a journalist, was imprisoned for two years after being accused of slapping a police officer. In a letter from prison, she stated, "Russia is conquering us without war. An oligarch is ruling our country, depriving us of a European future and legitimising autocratic, dictatorial rule. We need the support of the democratic world." Amaglobeli is scheduled to receive the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. She reported experiencing vision loss and worsening sight in solitary confinement.
VI. Education Reforms
Prior to last year's elections, a law on foreign influence was introduced in June 2024, which targeted civil society and independent media. Students participated in protests against this law.
The government plans education reforms for February, which will require Georgia's 19 state universities to focus on a single academic discipline under the slogan "one city, one faculty." These reforms aim to address issues such as university concentration in Tbilisi, program duplication, and insufficient state funding. The prime minister has stated that funding should be "focused on fulfilling state tasks."
Leading figures at Ilia State University, including Rector Nina Doborjginidze and Vice-Rector Georgi Gvalia, have expressed concerns that the reforms are intended to impose political control and reduce academic freedom. Doborjginidze stated, "If students are removed from the capital, they're removed from the political scene." Gvalia added that the changes represent "an abrupt change in Georgia's foreign policy from being one of the most pro-European countries in the region to the most difficult partners of the West, and change towards more autocratic great powers, like Russia and especially China."