Georgia’s Protests Erupt Over EU Membership

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Georgia’s political landscape has erupted into chaos following the failure of its parliament to pursue European Union membership, triggering widespread protests and a dramatic declaration from its pro-Western president. Salome Zourabichvili, the nation’s president, has refused to relinquish her position to the Moscow-aligned parliament and pledged to stay in office until new elections are held, labeling the current parliament as "illegitimate."

Georgian Rembo 😂👍🇬🇪✌️🇪🇺 #TbilisiProtest #GeorgianProtests pic.twitter.com/ya8vEyzQ5e

— ᎶᎥᎧᏒᎶᎥ 🇬🇪🇪🇺 (@Made_in_Georgia) November 30, 2024

 

“I am president because I’ve been elected by the people, and I’m president until the time when it’s inauguration for a president who is legitimately elected by a legitimately elected parliament,” Zourabichvili stated, vowing to uphold the will of the people. Her announcement came after four consecutive days of protests fueled by accusations that the recent parliamentary elections were rigged and by discontent over the parliament’s decision to withdraw from talks to join the European Union.

Georgian Women’s are the best! They fear nothing!

Наші дівчата найсміливіші! Подивіться, як вона бореться! Вона неймовірна. #GeorgianProtests #TbilisiProtests #Tbilisi #Georgia 🇬🇪✌️🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/hZElIafx9t

— ᎶᎥᎧᏒᎶᎥ 🇬🇪🇪🇺 (@Made_in_Georgia) December 1, 2024

 

This decision has heightened tensions between Zourabichvili and the ruling Georgian Dream Party, which has held power since 2012 and faces widespread accusations of moving Georgia closer to Moscow’s influence. Protesters across the capital city of Tbilisi and other regions have taken to the streets in massive demonstrations, clashing with riot police armed with tear gas and water cannons. Demonstrators threw fireworks as their cries for change echoed throughout the nation, underscoring the deep public dissatisfaction with the government’s pro-Russian pivot.

 

“What we’re seeing today is really the civil society taking over because the state is falling apart,” Zourabichvili told the BBC, emphasizing her role in ensuring stability during this period of upheaval. “I’m offering this stability for the transition, because what these people on the streets are demanding is a call for new elections in order to restore this country and its European path.”

 

The Georgian Dream Party has been accused not only of election manipulation but also of dismantling the country's independent institutions in favor of a pro-Russian agenda. These accusations resonate with a 2023 European Parliament resolution that blamed the ruling party for Georgia’s “worsening democratic crisis,” citing incidents of voter intimidation and systemic manipulation.

 

International reactions to the crisis have been swift. The European Parliament condemned the parliament’s decision, and the United States criticized Georgia for suspending its EU membership aspirations. A statement from the Biden administration called the move a betrayal of the Georgian constitution’s promise to pursue full integration into the European Union and NATO. “This decision goes against the promise to the Georgian people,” the administration declared, announcing the suspension of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership due to "anti-democratic actions."

 

Adding to the dissent, Georgia’s ambassadors to Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Italy resigned in protest against the government’s abandonment of the EU accession process. The rift highlights the growing divide between the ruling party and those committed to Georgia’s European future.

 

The ongoing political crisis has placed Georgia’s future in a precarious position, with its leadership, international alliances, and path toward democracy under intense scrutiny. As thousands continue to march in defiance of tear gas and riot police, the nation stands at a crossroads, its direction uncertain but fiercely contested.

 

Based on a report by the NYP 2024-12-03