Georgia Defers Efforts in Joining EU,  Instigates Uproar and Protests Amidst Citizens

January 20th, 2025

Naiah Talatala, Journalist

In the country of Georgia, protests and debacles have been on the rise, as tensions concerning the country’s deference to joining the European Union escalate to pressing heights. The pressures to unify were prominent after a populist party in Georgia known as the Georgian Dream was triumphant in a nation-wide referendum to finally consolidate with the EU. Georgia has been aspiring for this unionship for years, since its established independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union. Accomplishing this would help them transition away from Russian influence, and reap the multiple economic  and relational benefits that having closer ties with Europe and the US entails. The process in gaining EU membership is lengthy, and the country was on track to getting accepted into the bloc after receiving candidate status for it last year.  It wasn’t until November 28th, that the government had a sudden change of heart to postpone efforts; as a response to being rejected by the European Parliament of its parliamentary election results, stating that there were “irregularities” present. Thus, Georgian Prime Minister Iraki Kobakhidze declared that the country would cease accession talks for four years, which implanted a rambunctious uproar throughout the people of Georgia. Protests began to commence, influencing tens and thousands of citizens who are Pro-European, to express their opposition and anger to the government’s surrender, on the sullen streets of the country  capital Tbilisi. 

The enduring  issue that is adamant behind the growing protests in Georgia, is  the overwhelming control and power that the political party Georgian Dream possesses. The party was coined and founded by  Russian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili;  launched in 2011, and has since then grown dangerously more authoritarian in the past years. Namely,  with the questionable “foreign agent” law they pushed for, that essentially deems a variety of non governmental organizations as foreign agents. This derived much concern and fears from Georgains that were striving to develop more democratically, as this transaction brings them closer to Russia’s clutches, and harms their chances in getting together with the EU. The enacted law has produced immense backlash and recoils from the European Union and the US, further diminishing the country’s progress towards the democracy it aims for.

The protests have intensified beyond the borders of the country’s capital, with political demonstrations being prominent in a recorded eight towns and cities. These demonstrations have involved antics such as vandalising Georgian Dream facilities with eggs, tearing down flags representing the party, and even getting involved in physical brawls with authorities, that received major retaliations from police using tear gas and water cannons to combat protestors. This  resulted in about 100 people arrested and a couple tragically hospitalized. The US and EU  have spoken up regarding the growing authoritarianism in Georgia, disapproving of law enforcement’s harsh exchanges with protesters, in addition to encouraging the country to continue pursuing a path towards  unifying with the bloc. As of now, the protests are still eminent, and what awaits for Georgia politically is yet to be uncovered. Only time will tell what is to come for Georgia and its people, and  its continuous strive and struggle for democracy.