In these challenging hours, Georgian citizens are dealing with the fallout of disputed elections, fuelling intense political unrest following the disputed parliamentary vote on 26 October 2024, the country’s first fully proportional election for its 150-member Parliament that has been widely criticised for their alleged lack of transparency and accountability. Severe allegations of widespread voter fraud by the ruling Georgian Dream party have triggered significant domestic and international protests. At the same time, accusations of electoral manipulation and external interference continue to dominate the political discourse, despite a well-staffed electoral observer mission at the end of October.
Although last pre-election and exit polls indicated that the ruling party, Georgian Dream, led by pro-Russian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, would secure approximately 40% of the vote, the Central Election Commission declared the party victorious with 53.94%. This result has been vehemently contested by opposition parties and election monitors, who allege widespread vote-rigging and procedural irregularities.
President Salome Zourabichvili, potentially the last President of Georgia elected by popular vote before her term ends in December 2024, rejected the official results by immediately defining the disputed election as a ‘Russian special operation’ and subsequently filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court. She argued that two fundamental constitutional principles, namely the secrecy of the vote and its universality, had been flagrantly violated and called for a thorough investigation into electoral fraud. Zourabichvili has also claimed that Georgia is being pressured by Moscow to abandon its aspirations of joining the European Union. Her concerns were soon validated when one of the first actions of the newly formed Georgian Dream-led government was to suspend EU accession talks until 2028.
Besides comparing them to a “Russian special operation”, President Salome Zourabichvili described the electoral process as “stolen” and marked by “massive electoral fraud” through statements that quickly reverberated globally amplifying concerns about Georgia’s democratic trajectory.
At the same time, electoral observers reported significant procedural irregularities, including vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems, which were allegedly easy to tamper with, and ballots printed on thin paper, making voter choices visible. Opposition parties and observers argue that these flaws enabled the ruling Georgian Dream party to claim a disputed victory, further deepening political polarisation and public disillusionment.
Protests Erupt Over Disputed Elections and EU Accession Freeze
The aftermath of Georgia’s disputed elections has seen dramatic developments both on the streets and within institutional buildings, not limiting to public declarations. On 25 November, during the inaugural session of the newly elected Parliament, opposition lawmakers and President Salome Zourabichvili boycotted proceedings, deeming the election results illegitimate. Consequently, only Georgian Dream representatives attended, with 88 members filling the 150-seat assembly. Outside, thousands of protesters gathered to voice their outrage, accusing the ruling party of electoral fraud. Demonstrators camped overnight outside Parliament to amplify their demands, facing repeated use of water cannons by police over several consecutive nights.
The tensions peaked after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Thursday that Georgia would halt its EU accession process until 2028. Thousands of demonstrators poured onto Rustaveli Avenue outside the Georgian Parliament in the centre of Tbilisi, condemning the unilateral decision and denouncing the ongoing erosion of civil liberties. Riot police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and batons to disperse the crowds, resulting in violent clashes. Protesters retaliated with fireworks and rocks, constructing makeshift barricades in the streets. Live footage captured alarming scenes of police brutality, showing protesters being repeatedly kicked while lying on the ground. More than 250 people were arrested in the past hours as police advanced from multiple directions to disperse the crowds.
Georgian Diaspora’s Role in Worldwide Protests
The protests against the disputed 26 October parliamentary elections have quickly and massively spread far beyond Georgia’s borders, with the Georgian diaspora, numbering approximately four million globally, playing a pivotal role in organising demonstrations worldwide in flagship sites. Over the past week, members of the Georgian diaspora, alongside international activists, have organised several demonstrations in cities across the European and American continents, including sit-ins, itinerant performances, and mobile rallies calling for actions that are currently being in Washington, Brussels, Madrid, Berlin, London, Rome, and Strasbourg. The Georgian diaspora has become a vital voice in the ongoing protests against the 26 October parliamentary elections.
The diaspora, whose numbers in some areas of the world rival or even exceed local Georgian residents in the home country, which is estimated at 3,69 million people, is emerging as a powerful, committed and increasingly structured force for international advocacy. Key diaspora movements, such as Berlin-based GZA (Georgisches Zentrum im Ausland) and the “ქარები” (Winds) movement, have indeed spearheaded efforts to mobilise support and highlight the broader implications of their country’s democratic backsliding. Their demands include new elections under transparent and fair conditions, accountability for electoral misconduct, and greater international scrutiny.
In Brussels, activists living in Belgium and those arriving from other EU countries have promoted dynamic protest methods to engage with European policymakers and citizens. Most of the numerous demonstrations took place at Place Luxembourg, where the activists set up tents in front of the European Parliament, and culminated in hunger strikes and mobile protests using flag-draped vehicles to spread their messages and raise awareness by engaging with journalists, citizens, and policymakers. When met for the first time on 26 November, the activists emphasised the need for immediate action, not focusing on negotiation, from European institutions starting with the EU Parliament during the plenary session in Strasbourg. In particular, their efforts and hopes centred on the European Parliament’s resolution on sanctions and elections in Georgia, that was actually adopted by a vote of 444 in favour, 72 against, and 82 abstentions on 28 November. The resolution condemned the elections as neither free nor fair, called for re-elections within a year under independent administration and international supervision, and demanded sanctions against officials responsible for democratic backsliding, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. The members of the European Parliament also cited numerous violations during the elections, including voter intimidation, vote manipulation, interference with observers, and tampering with electronic voting machines. The resolution also condemned Russia’s interference in Georgia’s democratic processes through disinformation campaigns, such as the “Global War Party” conspiracy theory, which alleges that opposition parties aim to instigate war with Russia at Western behest. In particular, MEPs warned Georgian authorities that banning legally established political parties would further alienate Georgia from the EU.
Following the adoption of the resolution, in Belgium the demonstrators moved their protests to the Georgian Embassy in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and, on Friday afternoon, to the European Commission premises in Schuman where several activists voiced their concerns. One stated: “In Georgia, particularly in Tbilisi, we are witnessing open declarations by the pro-Russian Georgian Dream Party rejecting the EU integration path of our country. We are here in Brussels today, in front of the European Commission, to stand against this. Earlier, we held protests outside the Georgian Embassy as many of our ambassadors abroad are resigning in protest, and even some ministries in Georgia have voiced opposition to this move by Georgian Dream. We call for decisive measures, including individual sanctions, freezing high-level meetings, and suspending interactions with representatives of the pro-Russian Georgian Dream and we are determined to go ahead.”
As mentioned during her statement, in the wake of the government’s actions, Georgian Ambassadors David Solomonia, from the Netherlands, and Otar Berdzenishvili, from Bulgaria, have resigned over the past hours, citing their failed commitment to European integration and overtly condemning violence.
Furthermore, the United States and the OSCE have expressed deep concern over the excessive use of force through the statement of the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller who condemned the actions of Georgian authorities, calling for restraint and urging all parties to ensure peaceful demonstrations. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) also criticised the disproportionate and indiscriminate force used against largely peaceful protesters and journalists, emphasising the importance of the right to peaceful assembly in democratic societies. ODIHR reminded Georgian authorities of their obligations to adhere to international standards for protecting this fundamental freedom.
Also, UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Gina Romero, highlighted reports of targeted pepper spray use and the combined deployment of water cannons and chemical irritants against protesters. She described the situation as ‘particularly worrying’ and called for adherence to international standards protecting the right to protest.
A constant struggle for self-determination between Russian interference and European aspirations
The stakes are high not only for Georgia but for the broader region. As protests persist, the message resonating from Tbilisi and Brussels is unequivocal: Georgia’s fight for democracy is intertwined with Europe’s commitment to upholding its foundational principles. Protesters stress that “these principles must be defended in action, ensuring they are not undermined by a government intent on eroding democratic aspirations voiced by citizens on the streets of Tbilisi and beyond”. Demonstrators are also underscoring the broader implications of Georgia’s political crisis, framing their struggle as integral to the stability of Europe’s security architecture and its response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This perspective has drawn solidarity from many Ukrainians, particularly those participating in protests across Germany, who see defending Georgia’s democratic aspirations as part of safeguarding European values and geopolitical stability.
The activism of the Georgian diaspora, coupled with the response of European and international organisations, highlights growing global scrutiny of Georgia’s political trajectory. In this framework, grassroots mobilisation, particularly within the diaspora, has emerged as a powerful force in rallying international support for Georgia’s democratic aspirations.
Notably, protesters have voiced serious concerns about alleged voter intimidation by local criminal networks during the election process, especially in rural areas. These accusations, coupled with claims of systemic bias in state institutions favouring the ruling Georgian Dream party, have heightened calls for accountability and deepened mistrust in the nation’s political and institutional systems.
Nonetheless, with no resolution yet in sight, Georgia’s political future hangs in the balance. As protests continue to unfold in Tbilisi and beyond, the country faces a critical test of its democratic resilience and its overall role as a critical hub along the historical Silk Road, seen for centuries as a gateway between Asia and Europe.