Amidst international condemnation and internal dissent, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze lauded the police response to recent protests, alleging foreign orchestration aimed at destabilizing the nation.
Georgia, a former Soviet republic with a population of 3.7 million, has been embroiled in crisis since the ruling Georgian Dream party announced a four-year suspension of European Union accession talks. The European Union and the United States are deeply concerned by Georgia’s perceived shift away from pro-Western policies and a potential return to closer ties with Russia. Large-scale anti-government demonstrations have unfolded in Tbilisi for three consecutive nights, met with police deployment of water cannons and tear gas.
Further protests are scheduled for Sunday night in Tbilisi, with reports of demonstrations in other cities across the country.
Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev characterized the Georgian situation as a revolution attempt. In a Telegram post, the former Russian president warned of Georgia following a “Ukrainian path” with potentially dire consequences.
Medvedev, once viewed as a reformer, has adopted a more hawkish stance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, frequently issuing strong warnings to Kyiv and its Western allies.
While the Kremlin has yet to officially comment, it has a long history of accusing the West of instigating revolutions in post-Soviet states considered part of its sphere of influence.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze dismissed US criticism regarding the use of “excessive force” against protesters.
“Despite significant violence from protest groups and foreign operatives, Georgian police maintained a higher standard than their American and European counterparts, successfully defending the state from a constitutional order violation attempt,” he stated at a press conference, without presenting evidence of foreign involvement.
Kobakhidze also downplayed Washington’s suspension of its strategic partnership with Georgia, labeling it “temporary” and promising future discussions with the incoming US administration.
Adding to the constitutional crisis, outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, a government critic and strong EU supporter, declared her refusal to step down at the end of her term.
Zourabichvili cited the illegitimacy of the newly elected parliament, resulting from elections the opposition deemed fraudulent, as justification for remaining in office.
Kobakhidze acknowledged Zourabichvili’s “emotional state,” stating, “However, on December 29th, she must vacate the presidential residence.”
Georgian Dream nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former soccer player known for his hardline, anti-Western views, as its presidential candidate. The next head of state will be selected on December 14th by an electoral college comprising parliament and local government representatives.
For a significant period after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, Georgia leaned heavily towards the West, seeking to reduce Russian influence following a brief war in 2008. It was promised eventual EU membership and gained official candidate status last year.
However, domestic opponents and Western governments express growing concern over what they view as increasingly authoritarian and pro-Russian trends within the Georgian Dream government.
In June, a law requiring NGOs receiving over 20% foreign funding to register as “foreign agents” was enacted. September saw the passage of legislation restricting LGBT rights.
The government maintains that these actions are necessary to safeguard the country from foreign interference and prevent being drawn into a new war, similar to Ukraine.
New EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed solidarity with the demonstrators on Sunday.
“We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future,” she tweeted. “We condemn the violence against protesters & regret signals from ruling party not to pursue Georgia’s path to EU and democratic backsliding of the country. This will have direct consequences from EU side.”