Thousands marched in Tbilisi on Independence Day in a large pro-EU demonstration against what critics call democratic backsliding and an anti-Western shift by the government. The unrest follows disputed 2024 parliamentary elections and a decision to postpone EU accession talks until 2028, which fuelled months of protests and a subsequent crackdown. The rally — organised by an opposition coalition — underscored widespread popular support for EU membership and deepening political polarisation in Georgia.
Thousands Rally in Tbilisi on Independence Day Demanding EU Path Amid Political Crisis
Georgia has been mired in political turmoil since 2024 parliamentary elections which the opposition says were rigged (Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE)(Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE/AFP/AFP)
Thousands of Georgians marched through central Tbilisi on the country's Independence Day in a major pro-European demonstration, protesting what critics say is democratic backsliding and an increasingly anti-Western government.
The Black Sea nation has been shaken by unrest since disputed parliamentary elections in 2024 that opposition parties allege were rigged. Opposition groups have refused to recognise the new parliament and government, and tensions rose after authorities postponed EU accession talks with Brussels until 2028.
That decision sparked months of street protests that were met by a government crackdown affecting demonstrators, opposition figures, civil-society groups and independent media. Under a heavy police presence, thousands waving Georgian and EU flags marched to the parliament building, many holding placards saying "We are Europe" and displaying portraits of jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili.
"We've been out in the streets for more than 500 days, and we'll keep coming out for as long as it takes to defend Georgia's European future,"— Maya Khidesheli, a 20-year-old student who spoke to AFP.
"People will win in the end. No authoritarian government can stand up to a united people — and we are united,"— Irakli Nanadze, 59, a chemist and protester.
The rally was organised by a coalition of opposition parties that have recently worked to bridge divisions and present a united front against the ruling authorities. Critics accuse the governing Georgian Dream party of eroding democratic norms and pivoting the country closer to Moscow, allegations the government rejects. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has insisted Georgia's path to EU membership remains "steady and irreversible," even as Brussels has effectively frozen the accession process.
Formal EU membership is enshrined in Georgia's constitution and, according to opinion polls, enjoys support from more than 80 percent of the population. Last year the ruling party proposed measures to ban key opposition rivals, a plan widely condemned by critics as a further step toward authoritarianism. Western governments have criticised the deterioration of democratic practices in Georgia and have sanctioned some Georgian Dream officials.
As demonstrations continue, the standoff highlights broader questions about Georgia's political stability and its strategic orientation between the European Union and Moscow.
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