In the streets of Georgia’s capital Thursday evening as riot police deployed water cannons and pepper spray to disperse thousands of protesters rallying against the ruling party’s decision to halt the nation’s European Union accession talks until 2028. The move has triggered widespread unrest in the country, where EU membership is a deeply cherished goal.
Carrying Georgian and EU flags, demonstrators packed Rustaveli Avenue outside the Soviet-era parliament building, defying police warnings and chanting pro-European slogans. Protesters hurled fireworks and debris at police lines, who responded with water cannons and gas to push the crowd back. Amid the clashes, opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria, of the Coalition for Change party, suffered a broken hand.
“This is not just about Europe; it’s about the kind of country we want to live in,” Khoshtaria told reporters while her arm was immobilized in a sling. “The crackdown shows just how far the government is willing to go to suppress voices that believe in democracy and European values.”
The government’s decision to suspend EU accession talks comes as a shocking blow to many Georgians, given that joining the EU is enshrined as a national goal in the country’s constitution. Public opinion surveys consistently show overwhelming support for European integration among Georgians, many of whom see EU membership as a path to prosperity, rule of law, and security against Russian aggression.
“This decision is unconstitutional and against the will of the people,” said a joint statement signed by hundreds of employees from the foreign, defence, education, and justice ministries. The government has yet to respond to the unprecedented backlash from its own civil servants.
As tensions boiled over, several private universities announced they were suspending operations to stand in solidarity with the protesters. Business groups have also stepped into the fray, urging the government to reconsider its stance for the sake of Georgia’s economic and political stability.
“The freeze in EU talks will cost us years of progress,” warned Giorgi Mamaladze, a prominent business leader. “Foreign investment depends on Georgia being seen as a European-leaning, democratic country. This decision undermines all of that.”
The ruling Georgian Dream party, however, has doubled down. On Thursday, party officials justified the suspension of talks, accusing the EU of “blackmailing” Georgia with demands they claim infringe on the country’s sovereignty. “We want EU membership on our terms,” said party spokesperson Nika Melikishvili. “The EU’s conditions do not respect Georgia’s traditional values.”
This latest decision caps months of deteriorating relations between Tbilisi and Western allies, who have voiced growing concerns about Georgia’s political trajectory under Georgian Dream. Critics accuse the party of adopting authoritarian practices reminiscent of Russia and Belarus, pointing to a series of controversial laws passed in recent months.
In particular, legislation targeting “foreign agents” and LGBT rights has drawn widespread condemnation. The “foreign agents” law, modeled after Russia’s draconian measures, requires organizations receiving foreign funding to register as foreign agents—a move critics say stifles civil society.
The government’s position has fueled suspicions that Georgian Dream is aligning itself more closely with Moscow, a claim party officials vehemently deny. Yet, the party’s founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, is widely perceived as wielding significant influence behind the scenes and has faced accusations of having pro-Russian leanings.
The EU ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, described the government’s decision to freeze accession talks as “heartbreaking” in a statement on Friday. He also condemned the violent crackdown on demonstrators, urging the government to respect the rights of its citizens to peacefully protest.
“The European Union remains committed to Georgia’s future in the European family,” Herczynski said. “But recent developments raise serious concerns about the government’s commitment to the democratic principles that underpin our relationship.”
For many Georgians, the protests are about more than EU accession—they are about the country’s democratic identity and its place in the world.
“The people of Georgia have chosen Europe, and they’ve done so overwhelmingly,” said Lasha Dolidze, a 24-year-old student who participated in Thursday’s protests. “Our government is betraying us and turning us into another Belarus. We won’t let that happen.”
Tbilisi’s streets remain tense, with protesters vowing to continue their demonstrations despite the heavy-handed police response. Opposition parties, civil society groups, and even segments of the business community have rallied around the protesters, amplifying calls for the government to reverse its decision.
The political crisis highlights a growing chasm between the Georgian Dream leadership and the broader population. Analysts say the ruling party’s decision could prove politically costly, as public anger intensifies.
“The government is out of step with its people,” said Eka Gigauri, a political analyst based in Tbilisi. “This isn’t just about EU membership. It’s about trust, governance, and the future of democracy in Georgia.”
