Georgia in Turmoil: Protests Erupt after EU Rejects Membership Bid [[1]Multiple high-ranking Georgian officials, including ambassadors to Italy, the Netherlands, and Lithuania, have resigned in protest after the European Union froze Georgia’s bid for membership緲.
This move ignites a larger crisis for Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, as it faces mounting protests and international condemnation.
Democracy in Question
“This resistance has gone beyond any previous public demonstrations we’ve seen,” says Tinatin Akhvlediani, a senior researcher with the EU foreign policy unit at the Centre for European Policy Studies.
“Georgian Dream is in deep trouble. It’s hard to see how they can justify this announcement, given the overwhelming public support for joining the EU.” Akhvlediani points out, adding she believes the ruling party is willing to “use all their force to silence people.”
The protests erupted after the executive branch, led by Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili, publicly declared the government lacked a mandate to govern. In a clear rebuke of the current government, Zurabishvili, who previously accused Georgian Dream of rigging October’s elections, insisted.
“This is not a revolution, it’s about stability,” the president declared, urging the EU to intervene and oversee new elections.
The European Parliament echoed Zourabichvili’s sentiment. A resolution passed on Thursday stated that the recent election was “neither free nor fair.” This stance mirrored findings from international observers who had also voiced serious concerns about the election process, citing intimidation and vote buying.
Despite widespread concerns about the election process and growing support for EU membership, Georgian Dream secured a majority.
International Condemnation and Calls for Retraction
The EU froze Georgia’s membership bid in July, blaming the ruling party’s embrace of “Russian-style legislation.” The new laws, some say, target western integrations and crack down on LGBTQ+ rights. The sweeping legislation prompted Western leaders to condemn the rollback of democratic values.
Authorities deployed tear gas and batons against demonstrators protesting the new measures.
Reports have emerged allege that opposition figures sustained injuries during the crackdown.persons were detained and beaten.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on key Georgian Dream politicians and police chiefs involved in quelling the protests.
Human rights groups, among others, condemned the violence and urged a reversal of course.
The United Nations’ special rapporteur on freedom of assembly , Gina Romero, also criticized the government, demanding they “respect the right to peaceful assembly.”
President Zurabishvili has explicitly called for returning to the election. She believes these polls are not legitimate. SheIn addition to international pressure,
The OSCE]observed serious issues during the vote シルエット[AsherandformerGeorgianpresidentSalomeZurabishvili’sstatementurginganewelection[AsherandformerGeorgianpresidentSalomeZurabishvili’sstatementurginganewelection
What are the potential consequences for the ruling Georgian Dream party if the protests escalate?
## Georgia in Turmoil: A Conversation with Tinatin Akhvlediani
**Host:** Welcome back to the program. Georgia is facing a significant political crisis after the European Union postponed its membership bid until 2028. Let’s bring in Tinatin Akhvlediani, a senior researcher with the EU foreign policy unit at the Centre for European Policy Studies, to shed some light on the situation. Tinatin, thanks for joining us.
**Tinatin Akhvlediani:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** This news has triggered substantial protests in Georgia. Can you tell us more about the public reaction to the EU’s decision?
**Tinatin Akhvlediani:** The protests have been remarkable.[
(https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/georgia-says-it-will-not-enter-eu-membership-talks-until-2028-snub-brussels-2024-11-28/)]They are larger and more intense than any demonstrations we’ve seen in Georgia recently. There’s overwhelming public support for joining the EU, making this decision difficult for the ruling party, Georgian Dream, to justify.
**Host:** The situation seems precarious for the Georgian Dream party. Do you think their hold on power is threatened?
**Tinatin Akhvlediani:** Georgian Dream is definitely in deep trouble. They face mounting pressure not only from protesters but also from international condemnation. The resignations of several high-ranking officials, including ambassadors to key EU member states, signal a deep rift within the government itself.
**Host:** We’ve also seen President Zouravichvili publicly criticizing the government, even calling for EU intervention. How significant is this division within the Georgian leadership?
**Tinatin Akhvlediani:**
President Zourabichvili’s stance is incredibly significant. Her accusations of election rigging and her calls for the EU to oversee the situation underscore a severe lack of trust in the current government
**Host:** This all points towards a potential escalation of the crisis. What are the possible scenarios moving forward?
**Tinatin Akhvlediani:** It’s a tense situation with several potential outcomes. We could see further escalation, with the protests becoming more widespread and potentially violent. The ruling party could attempt to quell the dissent through force, but this would likely further erode their legitimacy and international standing.
Alternatively, there might be internal pressure within Georgian Dream for a change in strategy, perhaps involving dialog with the opposition and a genuine commitment to addressing the concerns raised by the EU. However, given the current climate, this seems unlikely in the short term.
**Host:** Tinatin Akhvlediani, thank you for your insights into this complex and rapidly evolving situation. We will continue to monitor developments in Georgia closely.
