In the news
On 28 December, France24 reported that thousands of Georgians have formed a human chain across the country in support of the EU membership, marking the second month of their daily pro-Europe rallies. 

On 29 December, BBC reported that thousands of Georgians protested waving Georgian and the EU flags in the capital Tbilisi as a new president allied with the ruling Georgian Dream party was inaugurated. However, the outgoing president refused to step down and said that she was the “only legitimate president.”  

On 31 December, Euronews reported that tens of thousands of pro-Europe Protestors rallied in front of the Georgian parliament building in the capital Tbilisi for the 34th consecutive day. 

Issues at large
First, the nature of the protests. Georgia has been plunged into an unprecedented wave of turmoil following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement on 28 November of a four-year suspension on the EU accession talks. This step was taken by Kobakhidze after the European Parliament rejected the results of Georgia’s 26 October parliamentary elections. The decision sparked daily mass protests that often became violent, with police deploying riot squads, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse crowds. Protestors have used fireworks and stones in response. The government is trying to suppress the protests by detaining the opposition leaders.   

Second, the profile of the protestors. The protestors are mainly pro-EU supporters of the outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili. Their main demands are to conduct new parliamentary elections, roll back the suspension of the EU talks and free all political prisoners. Civil servants, members of the diplomatic corps and hundreds of academicians have joined the resistance. A poll conducted by the Washington-based nongovernmental organization, National Democratic Institute, revealed that nearly 80 per cent of Georgians support their country’s aspiration to join the EU. Georgia submitted its application for EU membership in March 2022 and achieved candidate status in December 2023. 

Third, the government’s response. The government has responded to the protests through arrests of major opposition leaders and the use of tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The new government has criticized the demonstrations, describing them as violent and driven by foreign interference. Kobakhidze claimed that the opposition is trying to create a situation similar to Ukraine’s pro-Europe demonstrations in 2014 in Maidan Square. That uprising was followed by Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The largest opposition group in Georgia is the Coalition for Change, which comprises pro-Western liberal parties.  

Fourth, regional response. Despite a potential shift away from pro-European values, the EU leadership reaffirmed the EU’s openness to Georgia. In a statement released by the EU, it is said that “the EU stand with Georgian people and their choice for a European future. The door to the EU remains open and the return of Georgia to the European values and the EU accession path is in the hands of the Georgian leadership.” However, recently, the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland have expressed concern about the unfolding political crisis in Georgia. They jointly condemned the violence against peaceful protestors, media, and opposition leaders and recalled Georgian authorities’ responsibility to respect human rights and protect fundamental freedoms. The ministers also announced plans to implement an EU decision to revoke visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders. 
 
In perspective
The ongoing political turmoil in Georgia seems grave as the confrontation between the government and pro-EU Georgians is unlikely to end soon. The continued protests against the suspension of the EU talks until 2028 entered a second month. It will be difficult for the government to suppress such a mass protest without any concrete solution. Georgian people are united against the government's decision and they don’t want to abandon their European choice. The result of this confrontation will decide the future of Georgia; whether the South Caucasus country will be close to the EU or Russia.  

The relationship between the current leadership of Georgia and the EU has bittered following the EU report about the recent parliamentary election in Georgia. The report suggested that Georgia should conduct re-election for parliament within a year, which was allegedly rigged. Without fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, any European country cannot join the institution. The democratic backsliding in Georgia has made sure that the path to the EU is very far.