Georgia’s political crisis deepens as protests erupt over the appointment of ex-Manchester City footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili as president, marking a significant shift in the nation’s pro-EU aspirations.
Parliamentary Appointment Amid Opposition Boycott
In a controversial parliamentary vote that has intensified Georgia’s political turmoil, Mikheil Kavelashvili secured the presidency with overwhelming support from the electoral college, despite facing a complete boycott from the country’s main opposition parties.
The parliamentary process, which saw 224 out of 225 members backing Kavelashvili’s appointment, took place against a backdrop of ongoing protests and allegations of electoral manipulation from the October elections, where opposition groups claim widespread irregularities tainted the democratic process.
Outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili has taken a firm stance against the parliamentary decision, declaring the appointment illegitimate and maintaining that she represents Georgia’s last remaining valid democratic institution, highlighting the growing divide between the ruling Georgian Dream party and those seeking closer ties with the European Union.
Pro-EU Protesters Fill the Streets
Massive crowds of pro-EU demonstrators have gathered outside Georgia’s parliament building for 17 consecutive days, their protests gaining momentum after the government’s unexpected announcement to delay EU accession talks until 2028.
The nightly demonstrations have drawn diverse groups from across Georgian society, including IT professionals, public sector workers, actors, and legal experts, all unified under EU flags in opposition to what they view as their government’s retreat from European integration under the newly appointed president.
Despite freezing temperatures, these protests have spread beyond the capital Tbilisi to other major cities, while international observers report over 460 demonstrators have been detained and more than 300 subjected to alleged mistreatment, prompting sharp criticism from both the European Union and United States regarding the government’s heavy-handed response to pro-EU protesters.
Government’s Push Against European Integration
The Georgian Dream party’s decision to postpone EU accession talks until 2028 signals a clear shift away from European integration, despite EU membership being enshrined in the country’s constitution and supported by an overwhelming majority of Georgian citizens.
Kavelashvili’s People’s Power party, known for promoting anti-Western views, has emerged as a key voice in parliament, with its leadership accusing opposition groups of acting as foreign agents and labeling the current crisis as artificially created by external powers.
The government’s stance on European integration has drawn international concern, particularly following the introduction of a controversial “foreign agents” law that mirrors Russian legislation, leading the EU and US to impose targeted measures against Georgian officials while expressing alarm over the country’s democratic decline under the new presidential administration.
Crackdown on Demonstrators and Media
Transparency International reports a severe government response to protests, with over 460 people detained across Georgia and more than 300 cases of alleged torture or mistreatment, including targeted actions against members of the media.
Documented attacks on journalists have intensified the crisis, with footage emerging of masked men assaulting a TV reporter and cameraman, while pro-government groups have launched systematic harassment campaigns against civil society activists, including beatings outside their homes and arbitrary arrests.
Former public rights defender Nino Lomjaria has highlighted what she describes as “systematic torture and inhuman treatment of citizens,” while theatre workers joining recent protests captured the mood with their chant “the police are everywhere, justice is nowhere,” reflecting growing concerns about the state’s response to demonstrations opposing the new president’s appointment.
Kavelashvili’s Anti-Western Stance and People’s Power Party
Newly elected president Mikheil Kavelashvili, founder of the People’s Power party, has established himself as a prominent voice against Western influence in Georgia, consistently portraying opposition groups as foreign-controlled entities working against national interests.
The People’s Power party, which aligned with Georgian Dream during October’s elections, has now repositioned itself as what it calls a “healthy opposition” in parliament, attempting to fill the void left by what party officials describe as “radical opposition funded by foreign forces.”
Party leaders, including MP Guram Macharashvili, have framed Georgia’s current crisis as an artificial creation driven by foreign interference, while their controversial “foreign agents” law, co-authored by Kavelashvili himself, mirrors Russian legislation that has raised significant concerns among pro-democracy advocates about the new president’s political direction.
International Response to Democratic Decline
The European Union and United States have taken decisive action against Georgia’s democratic backsliding following Kavelashvili’s controversial rise to the presidency, with the US State Department implementing visa restrictions on government officials and police leadership.
EU foreign ministers are set to consider additional measures against the Georgian government during their upcoming meeting, responding to what they’ve termed “brutal, unlawful force from the police” against protesters and mounting evidence of systematic rights violations under the new administration.
Protesters have called for targeted sanctions against key figures, including billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and top government officials, while international observers warn that Georgia’s shift away from democratic values and European integration threatens to push the country further into Russia’s sphere of influence.
