Mass protests in Georgia have escalated into a second week, with police using increasingly violent tactics to disperse rallies sparked by the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union. Critics accuse the ruling party, Georgian Dream, of rigging the elections with the help of Russia to maintain power.
More than 100 people have been treated for injuries, with one protester placed in an induced coma after being hit with a tear gas capsule. Journalists have also been targeted, with one reporter suffering fractured facial bones in an assault by a riot policeman.
The protests began after the European Parliament criticized the elections as neither free nor fair, leading to the Georgian Dream putting EU accession talks on hold until 2028. International observers noted instances of violence and double voting at the polls, calling for a re-run.
Protesters are demanding closer connections with Europe and the United States while rejecting ties with Russia. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in 2023 but has put the process on hold due to concerns about democratic backsliding, including the passage of laws restricting freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights.
President Salome Zourabichvili, who contested the election results, has called for Western partners to pressure the ruling party to end police brutality against protesters. As the situation in Georgia remains tense, with ongoing protests and government crackdowns, the world watches to see how the escalating tensions will be resolved.
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