The Streets of Georgia are filled with people against the self-elected government, particularly in the capital city, Tbilisi, where protests started happening since the self-elected prime minister announced they were cutting ties with the EU. Citizens are fighting against what they think is an authoritarian government and violations of their democratic rights. Having such anti-Georgian dream party demonstrations has been met with severe police violence, including brutal tactics employed by SWAT teams against peaceful protesters.
The Fight for Democracy
Underneath these protests lies the greater public dissatisfaction with the self-elected ruling party, the Georgian Dream, which stands accused of ruining democratic institutions. The party is accused by protestants of voter manipulation, corruption, and oligarchic control, which has stolen hope for a fairer political landscape in people’s hearts and not to forget stalling progress towards European Union integration.
In 2023, Georgia secured EU candidate status, which was a significant step forward in EU integration. EU officials named a few concerns in the country, which are judicial independence, media freedom, and the influence of oligarchs. Protesters are demanding that the government take these criteria seriously and make reforms that prioritize EU values.
Russian Influence Sparks Fury
Another major source of unrest is an obvious closeness between the Georgian government and Russia. The public generally stands for Euro-Atlantic integration, but many see Georgian Dream's policies as too closely aligned with Moscow. In light of the still recent memory of Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the occupation of 20% of its territory today, any perceived surrender to Russian influence becomes a very emotive issue for Georgians themselves.
SWAT Teams and Police Brutality
Suppression of such protests is severe, and most people describe them as beyond violent. The SWAT teams have been deployed against peaceful demonstrations to suppress them by throwing tear gas into the crowd, armed with batons and rubber bullets. Social media has been filled with reports of beatings without provocation, mass arrests, and intimidation. They are trying to suppress the opposition by any means possible.
Videos circulating on the Internet show unarmed protesters being battered, dragged away, and detained without cause. This has caused many others to join the protests against the government,despite the risks. “We are fighting for our future,” said one protester, their face bruised from a confrontation with police.
The People's Demands
Clear demands of protestors are as follows.
- Justice for Police Violence: The protesters demand independent investigations into police brutality, and those that are responsible should be brought to trial.
- Democratic Reforms: The movement demanded the government's commitment to reforms that would address the EU's issues with respect to, among other things, judicial independence and media freedom.
- A Future that could bring Pro-Europe: Most think that the future of Georgia rests in its membership with the EU, which also helps guarantee independence from Russian influence.
International Support
The global community rings alarm bells about the state of affairs in Georgia with respect to political violence. On this instance, human rights organizations and EU representatives have called on the Georgian government to honor the rights of the protesters and engage in meaningful reforms. However, many believe that more pressure from the international community is needed to hold the government accountable.
Hope
The future of Georgia might appear gray, but the protest points out the toughness of the citizens. A government is built upon the foundation of society; if citizens refuse to comply with a dictatorship, the ruling party is bound to fail. The citizens, no matter their social status, gather every night next to the parliament to demand a promising future, one that is built with justice, equality, and democracy. As the protest rages on, the whole world awaits. What actions will the self-assigned party take? Will it answer the calls and change or stubbornly stick to repressive tactics? The courage of Georgian people who are facing SWAT teams and police batons in the streets of Tbilisi is evidence of the indomitable spirit of the nation that wants freedom and progress in the EU.