Georgian protesters maintained their daily demonstrations in Tbilisi on September 9, a day after supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party attacked participants protesting the government’s decision to halt European Union membership talks.
On September 8, demonstrators were pelted with bottles and rocks in front of Mayor Kakha Kaladze’s campaign headquarters. The mayor is seeking reelection in local elections on October 4. Despite the previous day’s violence, protesters gathered again on September 9 without incident.
Since the October 2024 parliamentary elections, in which Georgian Dream won 54% of the vote, opposition activists have held daily demonstrations citing alleged election violations and Russian influence. Tensions escalated further after the government’s decision to suspend EU accession talks.
During the September 9 rally, protestors poured yogurt over an election banner near Kaladze’s headquarters, and one banner was altered to read “Russian Dream”. The Interior Ministry claimed law enforcement took appropriate measures to prevent escalation, but demonstrators criticized police for failing to intervene during attacks by party supporters.
Former Deputy Ombudsman Giorgi Burjanadze questioned police inaction:
“What did the participants of the protest yesterday do that endangered the work of the headquarters? People were organizing the protest and were attacked. It is shameful.”
Protests since the EU membership decision have faced accusations of police using excessive force, and even torture. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has refused to reconsider the suspension of talks and threatened political opponents, blaming them for the violence.
A majority of Georgians continue to support EU membership, which is constitutionally mandated. Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023, but relations with Brussels have deteriorated amid adoption of a Russian-style “foreign agent” law targeting media and civil society.
