Georgians have been protesting since disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024 and are closely following pro-democracy demonstrations in Iran. Many in Tbilisi view Iran’s uprising as both an inspiration and a warning about unchecked authoritarianism. Local NGOs report widespread registrations of Iranian companies in Georgia and allege these are used to evade sanctions, while rights groups document detentions, alleged torture, fines, and harassment of journalists. Protesters remain focused on reversing the government’s shift away from EU integration.
Georgians Draw Strength From Iran’s Uprising as Anti-Government Protests Enter Second Year
Demonstrators with Georgian national, U.S. and E.U. flags rally during an opposition protest against the foreign influence bill and celebration of Independence Day in the center of Tbilisi, Georgia, on May 26, 2024.(AP Images)
Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets daily demanding change in Tehran — and Georgians protesting a yearlong political crisis in Tbilisi say the Iranian movement has strengthened their resolve. Since disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024, mass demonstrations have continued in Georgia as many citizens accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party of steering the country away from the EU and toward closer ties with Russia.
Solidarity With Iran
Ordinary Georgians braving freezing temperatures and reports of state violence are watching events in Iran and seeing parallels with their own struggle against a government many consider corrupt and increasingly authoritarian. Protesters regularly discuss developments in Iran as both an inspiration and a cautionary example.
Tinatin Khidasheli, Georgia’s former defence minister, told Fox News Digital: “If people can challenge a far more despotic and violent regime, it reinforces the belief that resistance in Georgia is not futile.”
On the Streets of Tbilisi
Since the disputed October 2024 vote, Rustaveli Avenue and other central locations in Tbilisi have frequently filled with demonstrators chanting, blocking traffic, and protesting the government’s policies. Protesters say they oppose the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession process after Irakli Kobakhidze became prime minister and have staged rallies outside the Iranian Embassy and other symbolic sites.
Demonstrators gather in the Square of Heroes during an opposition protest against "the Russian law" in the center of Tbilisi, Georgia, Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
Erekle Koplatadze, a 33-year-old protester who says he was detained for six days in November 2025, described seeing Lion and Sun flags and strong empathy for Iranians facing harsh crackdowns. “I don’t remember such a big protest in Tbilisi in support of a foreign nation except for Ukraine,” he said.
Allegations of Repression and Legal Restrictions
Human Rights Watch and local watchdogs have criticised legislation and policing tactics that, they say, curb the right to peaceful assembly. Local organisations report widespread arbitrary detentions, fines, and instances of mistreatment of protesters and journalists.
According to Transparency International Georgia, since Georgian Dream consolidated power: approximately 600 people have been arbitrarily detained, about 300 protesters were allegedly subjected to torture or inhumane treatment, 1,000 citizens received fines related to political expression, and some 400 journalists were reportedly arrested, beaten, or harassed. These figures are the NGO’s findings and have been widely cited by rights groups and opposition leaders.
Cars burn in a street during a protest over the collapse of the currency’s value in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 8, 2026.
Economic Links And Sanctions Concerns
Economic ties between Georgia and Iran are also under scrutiny. Civic IDEA, a Georgian NGO, published a July 2025 report alleging that Iranian businesses use Georgia as a transit hub to evade international sanctions and funnel funds back to Iran. The report states that nearly 13,000 Iranian companies are registered in Georgia.
Voices From The Protest Movement
Ana Riaboshenko, co-founder of Initiative Culture For Democracy, said Iran’s political trajectory has direct regional implications and could alter geopolitical alignments if it were to democratise. Marika Mikiashvili, foreign secretary of the opposition party Droa, warned that Iran’s experience is both inspiring and a warning of what can happen when authoritarianism consolidates unchecked power.
Outlook
Protesters in Georgia continue to draw moral support and strategic lessons from Iran’s uprising while pressing for the reversal of what they view as their government’s rollback of democratic commitments. The situation remains fluid: organisers say protests will continue until political demands are addressed, while authorities have enacted tougher measures that critics argue undermine democratic freedoms.
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