Georgia’s political landscape has been reshaped over the past year by unprecedented, sustained public mobilisation. Thousands consistently expressed commitment to European Union aspirations, directly challenging the Georgian Dream government’s anti-Western policy direction.
This profound societal tension arose after the disputed October 2024 elections. The initial flashpoint was November 2024 when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced suspending Georgia’s EU integration process.
Mass protests immediately erupted on Rustaveli Avenue, where demonstrators were met with riot police employing water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray. This swift, forceful state response precipitated two weeks of nightly clashes.
From the outset, police violence was notable for its severity, extending beyond crowd control to target media professionals directly. Officers attacked journalists, confiscated equipment, and carried out harsh arrests, injuring dozens of media workers.
December 2024 witnessed significant state repression, with over 450 protesters detained in two weeks. Civil society reported widespread police brutality as authorities deployed massive gas and conducted random arrests. Fines for road-blocking increased tenfold, making participation financially punitive.
Demonstrators, in turn, adapted their tactics by using protective gear and disabling tear gas canisters. Protesters creatively repurposed Christmas decorations on Rustaveli Avenue with banners and images of tortured detainees, underscoring enduring defiance.
As January 2025 arrived, government bans on fireworks, face masks, and lasers reduced the mass dispersal of demonstrations. This policy shift coincided with more peaceful, thematic protests, notably targeting judicial bias.
These evolving forms of protest saw judges confronted and pelted with eggs, demonstrating a growing focus on institutional accountability. Regional solidarity also emerged, exemplified by rallies supporting a media founder following her detention in Batumi.
In Tbilisi, smaller disobedience marches featured participants deliberately wearing banned face masks, signalling continued defiance. A three-hour general strike then secured significant cross-sector participation, highlighting broad public opposition.
February 2025 marked a hardening of the state's stance, as attempts by protesters to block a major Tbilisi exit became a criminal offence, leading to heavy police deployment. This triggered significant traffic gridlock, alongside arrests of several opposition leaders.
By March 2025, daily marches from the Georgian Public Broadcaster to parliament condemned biased coverage and politically motivated firings. Demonstrators regularly read aloud the names of imprisoned protesters, using drums and megaphones.
The year of protests illustrates Georgia's deep societal division between European aspirations and the ruling party's trajectory. Despite evolving repressive measures, sustained mobilisation and adaptive strategies reveal a resilient civil society, shaping the nation's geopolitical alignment and democratic future.