• Source: 2024 Georgian post-election protests

      • On 28 October 2024, protests began in Georgia after the preliminary official results were announced of the parliamentary election of 26 October. The ruling Georgian Dream won the majority of seats in parliament according to those results. The demonstrators claimed that the elections were fraudulent, and demanded a recount and a new election.
      A string of protests and legal challenges against the election outcome took place in the following months and saw an escalation when the government announced on 28 November that it would postpone the European Union accession process until the end of 2028. This decision occurred against the background of Georgians' high levels of trust in the EU.
      The protests have been marked by widespread violence and instances of torture against protesters and journalists by the police. Evidence circulated on social media indicating violence by titushky.


      Chronology




      = First wave (28 October – 25 November)

      =
      On 28 October, tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Tbilisi to protest the results of the recent parliamentary elections, which President Salome Zourabichvili criticized as rife with irregularities. Addressing the crowd, Zourabichvili claimed the ruling Georgian Dream party employed tactics akin to those used in Russia, arguing that the election results did not accurately reflect voters' intentions. Officially, Georgian Dream was reported to have won over 54 percent of the vote, securing the parliamentary majority. President Zourabichvili, in her address, reassured demonstrators, stating, "You did not lose the election. They stole your vote and tried to steal your future".

      Election observers said instances of intimidation and other violations were particularly noticeable in rural areas. In those areas, Georgian Dream received up to 90 percent of the vote according to the results, suggesting a possible scheme to favor Georgian Dream in those areas. The European Union, several of its members like Germany and France, and the United States called for an investigation into these allegations. The ambassador of the European Union to Georgia Paweł Herczyński stated that "international observers have not declared the elections to be free and fair. Neither have they declared the contrary".
      The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell called on the Central Election Commission of Georgia (CEC) to "swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof". The President of the European Council Charles Michel stated that the allegations of irregularities "must be seriously clarified and addressed". Meanwhile, Hungary, China, and Turkey congratulated Georgian Dream on their victory in the election. On 30 October, the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia launched an investigation into the election fraud allegations.
      On 4 November, opposition parties in Tbilisi staged another rally outside the Georgian parliament, unveiling a strategy to contest the election results. Prior to that rally, a large group, including opposition leaders, marched from the central railway station through the city to Rustaveli Avenue and the parliament. At the rally the pro-Western opposition claimed once again the vote of 26 October was "stolen", rejected the results and called for non-recognition of the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament. They demanded new elections to be carried out under international supervision and announced daily protests as part of a campaign of "resistance" that should expand nationwide.

      Opposition leaders said the protests would intensify over time and urged supporters to gather across Tbilisi in large numbers to obstruct parliament access and maintain visible pressure on authorities. They also called for continuous efforts to gather evidence of vote rigging and manipulation. Meanwhile, Transparency International Georgia reported on several instances of electoral misconduct during the elections, including unauthorized voting with confiscated IDs, which they partly attributed to negligence by the Central Election Commission (CEC). A day later, the opposition protested at the Tbilisi Court of Appeal and marched through Tbilisi afterwards, hindering traffic. The Appeals court began the review of cases on election violations, which were ruled by lower district courts in favor of the opposition claims.
      On 12 November, another protest was held in front of parliament, where speeches were delivered by the chairpersons of the foreign relations committees of Germany, Finland, Sweden, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland. Prior to the protest, they also held meetings with President Zourabichvili.
      On 14 November, students at Batumi State University went on strike, accusing the election administration of aligning with the Georgian Dream and demanding new elections. After occupying the university, they faced heating and electricity cuts but continued their protest outside, urging nationwide support. Solidarity protests spread to Tbilisi, with students from Ilia State University, Tbilisi State University, Caucasus University, the Medical University, and GIPA joining, while universities in Kutaisi also expressed support.
      On 15 November, a court in Tbilisi dismissed 11 lawsuits filed by opposition parties and civil society groups questioning the conduct of the election, during which the CEC was the defendant. As the CEC officially certified the result the next day, its chair, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, was doused with black paint by CEC commissioner David Kirtadze, a member of the opposition United National Movement, who said that the official results of the vote did not reflect the electorate's "true choice".
      On 17 November, a large rally took place in front of the Parliament building, while the Coalition for Change, initiated a parallel protest near Tbilisi State University on Chavchavadze Avenue. The group blocked the avenue, set up tents, and announced a 24-hour sit-in. The protest remained peaceful as activists erected tents, with police refraining from intervention. By evening, demonstrators from Rustaveli Avenue joined the group at the university.
      However, tensions escalated on 19 November, when police forcefully dismantled the protest camp at dawn. At least 16 people were arrested, including a cameraman for the opposition television channel Mtavari Arkhi. Despite the initial setback, protesters regrouped and reclaimed Chavchavadze Avenue by the evening.
      On 18 November, Zourabichvili filed a lawsuit with Constitutional Court, seeking to annul the results of the election. A statement from her office declared the election results "unconstitutional," citing violations of the principles of universality and secrecy.
      Later, outrage erupted after riot police used Tbilisi State University grounds to disperse peaceful protesters on 19 November, sparking accusations of the university enabling the crackdown. Student Movements and lecturers demanded the Rector's resignation, accusing TSU of betraying academic values. While the Interior Ministry denied using TSU as a base, protests and condemnation from professors and students across Georgia continued, highlighting TSU's alleged lack of independence under the Georgian Dream government. Several activists and students from different universities entered TSU's main campus as part of the ongoing protest and started a strike demanding resignation.
      The new parliament held its inaugural session on 25 November, with only 88 MPs from Georgian Dream in attendance. President Zourabichvili boycotted the session, while protests continued outside the parliament building. Constitutional experts said the self-inauguration of Parliament without the president calling this session is in violation of the constitution, challenging the legitimacy of parliament and calling it a "power grab". According to the Georgian constitution, it is the president's task to call the inaugural session of parliament. She refused to do so as she rejected the election results as rigged, questioning the legitimacy of parliament. President Zourabichvili called the convocation of parliament "unconstitutional", while the chair of the parliament Shalva Papuashvili accused Zourabichvili of violating constitution in response, saying that according to constitution the new parliament must be convened no later than 10 days after official announcement of results by the Central Election Commission.


      = Second wave (28 November – present)

      =
      On 28 November, the new convocation of the Parliament of Georgia confirmed the government of Irakli Kobakhidze, who made several changes to its composition. The official program was titled "Towards Europe with Peace, Dignity, and Prosperity", which the ruling party has adopted as a slogan during the pre-election campaign with its emphasis on "joining the European Union only whilst playing by Georgian rules, avoiding being drawn into Russo-Ukrainian war and preserving the traditional values". On the same day, the European Parliament passed the resolution demanding the new elections in Georgia "under international supervision". It has also called the European Commission to impose sanctions on the leaders of the Georgian government. In the evening, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a press briefing. He announced the unilateral suspension of EU accession, as well as rejecting any budgetary grants and loans from the EU until 2028. Kobakhidze said that EU accession and grants have been used as a "naked instrument of blackmail" by EU bodies such as the European Parliament, citing the resolutions adopted by the EP in the past years regarding Georgia. He condemned "interference by some European politicians and bureaucrats in parliamentary elections", as well as their alleged "attempts to incite revolution in Georgia". Kobakhidze said that Georgia would continue implementing the Georgia—European Union Association Agreement, and would revive the topic of opening the accession negotiations with the European Union in 2028, after strengthening its economy. Hours later, Russian president Vladimir Putin praised the move, saying he "admired [the administration's] courage and character, which they showed when defending their point of view". The protests against the decision began in front of Georgian parliament during the same day and have continued for the next days, primarily in Tbilisi but also in other cities including Batumi, Poti, Zugdidi, and Kutaisi.

      Parliament also set a date for the 2024 Georgian presidential election on 14 December. After the 2017 constitutional reform, the president is no longer elected by popular vote but instead through a 300-member Electoral College, including all 150 MPs, all representatives from the supreme councils of the Abkhazian and Adjaran autonomous republics, and local bodies. Georgian Dream, holding a majority in the Electoral College, nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili, a member of its ally People's Power, to the presidency. Zourabichvili, the last president to be elected by popular vote, has rejected the legitimacy of the current parliament and has said that she will not step down as president "until the legitimate parliament is elected that will legitimately elect [a replacement]". Kobakhidze responded by saying "of course on 29 December she'll have to leave".
      The protests have been marked by widespread violence against protesters and journalists by the police; police officers have also been injured. RFE/RL journalist Tamuna Chkareuli reported that she had "never experienced this level of aggression from the police before". Amnesty International has said that "this recurring pattern of violence and human rights violations, well-documented since last year's protests, reveals the Georgian government's strategy to deploy the full machinery of the state to punish and suppress dissent". Georgia's public defender indicated that injuries sustained by protestors give a "credible impression" of punitive violence by police that "constitutes an act of torture".

      Meanwhile, Kobakhidze has said that protestors, not police, are responsible for "systemic violence". He has called the protests "violent demonstrations" while alleging the involvement of "foreign entities", including saying that the protests are funded from abroad. Protesters have been recorded attacking the police with Molotov cocktails and pyrotechnic devices. Police have used tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray, as well as water cannons that protestors and journalists allege have been laced with chemicals or allergens. Georgian rights ombudsman Levan Ioseliani said that injuries sustained by protestors give a "credible impression" of punitive violence by police that "constitutes an act of torture". On 2 December, the Minister of Internal Affairs reported that 224 protestors have been arrested in recent days, with charges including petty hooliganism and disobeying lawful police orders, and that 113 police officers have been injured since 28 November.
      On 2 December, opposition leader Zurab Japaridze was arrested, though he was released a few hours later. As an MP, he has immunity from arrest and prosecution. His party, the Coalition for Change, alleged that he was targeted by police. On 4 December another opposition leader, Nika Gvaramia, was arrested. The CfC said he was "thrown into a detention car as he was physically assaulted and unconscious".

      On December 8, Salome Zourabichvili met with US President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. She shared details of the meeting on X, highlighting an "in-depth discussion" about the rigged election and the "alarming repression" in Georgia. Zourabichvili emphasized the need for a strong US and expressed gratitude for Trump's support, calling him a friend to the Georgian people. Zourabichvili also met with Elon Musk, who had been appointed by Trump to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency. She described the exchange as excellent and expressed anticipation for Musk’s visit to Georgia. During her time in Paris, Zourabichvili also held discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the ongoing situation in Georgia.
      On December 13, Parliament approved the final reading of a bill prohibiting the wearing of masks and the use of fireworks and laser pointers during protests. The new legislation also introduced stricter regulations on fireworks in Georgia, requiring a license for their export, import, and sale.
      On the same day, Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed support for Georgia’s EU aspirations, emphasizing the EU’s role in peace and respect for sovereignty. He urged Georgia to fulfill its responsibilities as an EU candidate, protect freedoms, and engage in dialogue among political actors and civil society. Macron expressed confidence in Georgians’ commitment to their European future despite challenges like propaganda and intimidation. Two days earlier, Macron urged the release of protesters "arbitrarily" arrested during a crackdown on demonstrations, in a call with Bidzina Ivanishvili. He condemned police violence and intimidation of civil society, calling for respect for freedom of expression and assembly.


      See also



      2023–2024 Georgian protests


      References




      External links


      Media related to 2024 Georgian post-election protests at Wikimedia Commons

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