Georgians Defy Government Crackdown After Year of Protests

Published: 27 November 2025 Thursday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Georgians are vowing to continue their protests after a year of sustained demonstrations against the government’s halt on EU integration. Giorgi Arabuli, a regular participant, says, “I’m standing for the future of this country,” highlighting the determination of citizens who have been marching nightly in Tbilisi since 28 November 2024.

The mass demonstrations erupted after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a four-year suspension of EU membership moves, triggering outrage over what many see as a “dismantling of democracy.” Protesters accuse the government of adopting Russian-style governance, while European officials have criticized Georgia’s backsliding.

Rustaveli Avenue, the capital’s main thoroughfare, became a nightly battleground. Authorities imposed heavy fines, criminal charges, and new laws allowing imprisonment for first-time traffic-blocking offenses, with repeat offenders facing up to a year behind bars. Despite these measures, protesters adapted by moving through adjacent streets and continuing nightly demonstrations.

Among those targeted are key opposition figures like Zura Japaridze, jailed for refusing to testify before a parliamentary commission investigating alleged previous government abuses. He faces solitary confinement and new charges that could carry up to 15 years in prison, including accusations of sabotage and aiding foreign powers.

“The government has used every method to crush the protests, but they haven’t succeeded,” says Nata Koridze, whose husband is one of the jailed opposition leaders. The EU’s recent enlargement report described Georgia’s candidate status as “in name only,” signaling that EU membership is now a distant goal.

Publicly, the Georgian Dream government has grown increasingly hostile toward foreign critics. Parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili accused the EU of ideological interference, stating, “The policies and approaches in Brussels must be changed. For them, the Georgian people and their choice mean nothing.”

Despite arrests, fines, and a tightening legal framework, Georgians continue to demand democratic reforms, rule of law, and a clear path toward EU membership, demonstrating resilience in the face of increasing government repression.