Georgia - November 2024

Major protests broke out around the country after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced Georgia would be ‘pausing’ EU accession until 2028. The scale of the protests, as well as reports of excessive violence in the police response, led civil society observers and foreign officials to raise concerns about the country’s overall stability. Many high-ranking civil servants have resigned in protest and hundreds more have openly condemned the government’s actions. Over 300 protesters had been detained as of 3 December, and local rights NGOs accused police of torturing detainees. Tensions over the political neutrality of the country’s institutions were already high.  

UPDATE: Street protests continued throughout December 2024. Gangs of masked men in black clothes have also been filmed attacking protesters, journalists, and opposition figures, resulting in multiple hospitalizations. The government has denied reports of excessive force by police and any connection to the masked gangs, but no arrests of the latter have been made. The government also passed several new laws on 30 December making certain activities at protests, such as blocking a road, possessing unauthorized placards or posters, possessing firecrackers, or covering one’s face punishable by fines

Sources: Euronews, Eurasianet (1), OC Media (1), Netgazeti, Eurasianet (2), Reuters, OC Media (2), Publika, JAM News