In late 2024, tens of thousands of pro-European Georgians took to the streets to protest the controversial foreign agents law and disputed legislative election results won by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Just weeks after these events, authorities announced the suspension of the country's accession process to the European Union. Although the demonstrations have become more modest in scale, they continue daily in Tbilissi despite government repression.
For two years, the population's aspiration for European integration has clashed with a government accused of complicity with Russia. While civil society and opposition groups face crackdowns, authorities justify their stance by citing the danger of a war similar to the invasion of Ukraine, arguing that maintaining good relations with Moscow is essential for national security. However, many citizens denounce this pro-Russian ideology, noting that 20% of Georgian territory remains occupied by Russian soldiers who frequently enter areas controlled by Tbilissi.
The organization Deoccupy Georgia has highlighted these territorial violations, with volunteers patrolling the demarcation line to document the situation. Gagi Makharadze, a member of the group, criticizes the lack of political will from Georgian authorities to end these breaches. The suspension of the EU accession process, officially announced on November 28, 2024, and effectively halted since June 2024, has sparked anger among a population where more than 70% desire membership in the bloc.
Protests persist in the capital, led by figures such as Gota Chanturia. After facing financial repression, Chanturia now aims to establish his own opposition party to challenge Georgian Dream at the ballot box. Pressure is also mounting on civil society due to restrictions on foreign funding. The law on transparency of foreign influence, adopted in May 2024, hampers access to international funds, with many viewing these measures as anti-democratic and detrimental to their activities.
In northern Georgia, Mariam Topchishvili, co-founder of the independent cultural space Art House Gori, faces threats of closure and pressure during events. As discouragement spreads among some Georgians, continued mobilization remains one of the few ways to resist and preserve the hope for a European future.
Sources: France 24 Français.