Today, it’s the grandparents marching through the streets of Tbilisi, protesting against the current self-proclaimed government.
When I was in Tbilisi this past May, attending demonstrations against the so-called “Russian Law,” I passed a group of people and noticed an elderly woman. I stopped, we looked at each other, slowly, I raised my camera and made this picture.
Afterward, we smiled and she seemed to thank me with a nod and a hand placed across her heart. Yet, I felt like I was the one gifted with such a special moment.
Look at this country. Look at these people.
An elderly woman in Tbilisi, with whom I shared a brief but special moment in May of this year.
Rumors circulated this past week that Irakli Kobakhidze, the prime minister of the self-proclaimed government, was on the verge of stepping down. Similar rumors were spread about Irakli Garibashvili, the former prime minister now serving as Georgian Dream’s chairman. These speculations followed a phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the informal leader of the Georgian Dream party. Amidst these developments, the Georgian people continued to flood the streets in protest—in Tbilisi and across the country—demanding new and fair elections, the resumption of accession talks with the European Union, and support and sanctions from Western allies.
The protests drew participation from various professional groups, including IT workers, winemakers, marketing professionals, and many others. Notably, even a significant number of members of the administration voiced their dissent against the policies of the self-proclaimed government, highlighting the widening cracks within the governing system. In fact, the scale of yesterday’s demonstrations was so extensive that they effectively paralyzed the streets of the capital.
Today, December 14, a new president was scheduled to be elected, as the term of the current president is about to expire. However, while the illegitimate parliament convened behind closed doors to elect a former football player with no recognizable credentials, Salome Zourabichvili—the current and legitimate president—was out on the streets. She greeted and supported the protesters, once again assuring them that she would not abandon the people.
Already on October 28th, President Salome Zourabichvili addressed the crowd protesting against the rigged parliamentary elections in front of the Georgian Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.
Following another week of protests marked by police violence, widespread arrests of demonstrators—including opposition politicians, student activists, journalists, and even teenagers—people in Georgia continue to call for support, awaiting significant reactions from the international community.
The Baltic states were the first to respond, imposing sanctions on individuals associated with the Georgian Dream, followed by the government of Ukraine. The U.S. administration announced that it is seriously considering all options. Now, all eyes are on Brussels, waiting for an adequate response.
Europe, are you listening?
Demonstrators calling for sanctions against representatives of the self-proclaimed Georgian government during a protest in front of the Georgian parliament on November 4, 2024.
Night six of the standoff between the government and the people of Georgia unfolded much like the previous nights. Thousands once again flooded Tbilisi’s main avenue, voicing their discontent over the results of the rigged election and the anti-European stance of the self-proclaimed government. As usual, their calls were met with disproportionate police violence, transforming Rustaveli Avenue into a battleground where firecrackers clashed with water cannons and police squads.
Already in May of this year, during the demonstrations against the so-called „Russian Law,“ protesters were prepared to confront police intimidation tactics.
While demonstrations against the self-proclaimed government continue across Georgia with unprecedented intensity, police forces in the capital, Tbilisi, persist in using scare tactics to disperse and arrest protesters. These tactics often target individual demonstrators, including opposition party members and, notably, media representatives reporting on the events.
Independent media, particularly in times like these, needs our support. One way to help is by becoming a member of OC Media(Open Caucasus Media), an organization committed to ethical journalism, reporting live from the frontlines of the protests. They have launched a GoFundMecampaign to raise funds for essential safety and security equipment (gas masks, helmets, first aid kits, bug sweep devices) as well as communication tools (power banks, chargers) and legal support services.
Screenshot of OC Media, December 2, 2024, main photo of protests in Tbilisi by Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.
The weekend was marked by protests and violence. While the government employed police brutality and arrests as a scare tactic to keep people off the streets, it only led to even more demonstrators joining the ranks of the marchers. Visioner.gereports that the November 30 demonstrations were among the largest ever recorded, with close to 200,000 protesters voicing their dissent against the current government in Tbilisi alone, accompanied by numerous protests across the country.
There seems to be no end in sight—some are even beginning to call it a revolution. Change is in the air. Let’s continue to closely monitor the situation and offer support where we can.
Look at this country. Look at these people.
A young demonstrator displayed her hope for the future on May 26, Georgia’s Independence Day, at a rally on Chavchavadze Avenue in Tbilisi.
After days of relative calm, filled with debates over whether the Georgian opposition was capable of providing viable alternatives to the Georgian people, tensions have reignited following the disputed first session of parliament after the October 26 election. All it took was a spark to bring the protests back to life.
That spark came from Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who announced that Georgia would suspend EU accession talks until 2028 and refuse any budgetary support from the EU until then.
The announcement, widely perceived as evidence of the government’s pro-Russian orientation—something it had previously masked with hollow commitments to the European path—triggered immediate outrage. Thousands of people once again took to the streets in protest, not only in the capital, Tbilisi, but also in other cities like Batumi, Kutaisi, and Zugdidi.
In Tbilisi, protesters were joined by President Salome Zourabichvili, who directly confronted the police. However, riot police later cracked down on demonstrators, specifically targeting journalists and media personnel covering the events.
But the flames of discontent spread beyond the streets. Kobakhidze’s remarks also sparked dissent within the government itself. Over 100 serving Georgian diplomats signed an open letter criticizing the suspension of EU accession talks.
A turbulent weekend lies ahead for Georgia. Now, it’s up to the international community to maintain—and even increase—its support in pressing for new and fair elections.
Look at this country. Look at these people.
A protester enthusiastically waves the European flag in May 2024 during a protest outside the Georgian parliament, on the night before the third reading of the so-called Russian Law.
Is this the end of large-scale protests against the election results in Georgia for now? Following another 24-hour wave of demonstrations starting Sunday and culminating in an overnight sit-in outside the Georgian parliament—attended by a crowd seemingly smaller than the opposition had hoped—an air of despair pervades comments and reports. As Marika Mikiashvili, a member of the opposition party Droa, put it in a tweet: “Georgia is tired, confused, angry, and deeply humiliated.”
Still, she continues to express hope that this moment will spark ongoing resistance against the self-proclaimed government, both at home and abroad.
Protesters gathered in front of the Georgian parliament on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue in May of this year, demonstrating against the so-called „Russian Law.“
For the last two days and nights, demonstrators have held their ground at the intersection of Varaziskhevi Street and Chavchavadze Avenue/Melikishvili Street in Tbilisi, blocking traffic in protest of the recent elections. According to reports on Bluesky, there were tents and sandbags, but also play, music, and continuous chants saying “Georgia!” “Where are we headed? To Europe!”
As many expected, last night the police attempted to regain control, using force to push back, injure, and detain people, including members of independent media outlets who were doing their jobs.
A woman demonstrating her love for her motherland on May 26, Georgian Independence Day, during a protest against the so-called „Russian Law“ on Chavchavadze Avenue.
Mamuka Khazaradze, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia coalition, recently shared his thoughts on five steps needed to pave the way for new elections in Georgia:
Continue permanent street protests throughout Georgia and in the capital, Tbilisi.
Delegitimize the current parliament by resigning parliamentary mandates and revoking proportional lists.
Establish a „people’s parliament“ composed of opposition MPs, with President Salome Zourabishvili serving as the chairperson of this body.
Develop an action plan for this „people’s parliament.“
Send a delegation from this „people’s parliament“ to engage with Western partners to strengthen international support.
Additionally, it has been announced that the opposition will reveal further action plans tonight at 7:00 p.m. Tbilisi time.
Mamuka Khazaradze, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia coalition (Lelo Party), being interviewed during a protest against the results of the Georgian parliamentary elections in front of the Georgian parliament on Rustaveli Avenue on November 4th, 2024.
