“I’m standing for the future of this country,” says Giorgi Arabuli, a constant presence in the streets of Tbilisi since protests began one year ago. These mass demonstrations erupted after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's announcement in November 2024, putting a projected four-year suspension on strides toward joining the EU.
Arabuli recalls the turmoil of the 1990s civil war, primarily exacerbated by Russian influence. “We don’t want to go back there,” he insists. This longing resonates deeply as Georgians now witness a perceived dismantling of democracy, drawing parallels with Russian-style governance.
The protests have evolved into an ongoing struggle, with the main avenue often obstructed, transformed into a battleground between demonstrators and police. Legislative pressures and heavy policing have forced protests to adapt, leading to nightly arrests.
The Georgian Dream government’s oppression includes hefty fines for protesters, brutal crackdowns, and criminal charges against activists. “Freedom for regime prisoners,” cries a banner directed at the Supreme Court, symbolizing the broader battle against repression.
As members of six key opposition figures remain behind bars—jailed for not complying with a parliamentary inquiry—the political landscape has shifted, leading to stricter laws targeting civil liberties.
Citizens, like Nata Koridze, argue the government's tactics mirror those of an increasingly authoritarian regime, with accusations of aligning more closely with Russian interests. The government's struggle for legitimacy worsens as the EU regards Georgia as an “EU candidate in name only,” ultimately putting any membership aspirations years away.
Despite these challenges, a dedicated core of protesters gathers nightly, undeterred by threats of imprisonment and fines, holding tightly to their vision for a European future. “The protest embodies an idea. And ideas live through decades, through centuries,” Koridze reflects.
The culmination of decades of political struggle hangs in the balance, as every march on Tbilisi's streets echoes a resilient hope against adversity.
