Georgia in Turmoil: Protests, Resignations, and a Deepening Crisis.
Georgia has found itself embroiled in a rapidly evolving political crisis, as the country grapples with a wave of street demonstrations and a string of high-profile resignations triggered by the ruling party’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.
For the fourth consecutive night, tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets in several cities, expressing their discontent with the government’s move. However, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed the protests, claiming that the opposition had misled the people.
The crisis has claimed the latest victim in the form of Georgia’s ambassador to the US, David Zalkaliani, who has become the latest senior diplomat to step down. Kobakhidze acknowledged the resignation, stating that Zalkaliani had faced “considerable pressure.”
Despite the widespread protests, Kobakhidze sought to deny the reasons behind the unrest, asserting that the government had not suspended anything and that the claims were “a lie.”
This contradicts the earlier announcement by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which had accused the EU of using accession talks as “blackmail” and stated that the government had decided to postpone the issue until the end of 2028.
The Interior Ministry later reported that 21 officers were injured, while the pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, alleged that the arrested protesters had been subjected to beatings and sustained serious injuries.
Georgia’s increasingly authoritarian government has been accused by the EU and US of democratic backsliding. In a significant move, the US has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia, further straining the country’s relations with its Western allies.
Despite the growing protests and resignations, Kobakhidze remained defiant, rejecting calls for new elections from the pro-Western president. He insisted that the Georgian Dream party remained “committed to European integration” and would continue on its path to the “European dream.”
The crisis has sparked widespread discontent among Georgians, with hundreds of civil servants and more than 3,000 teachers signing letters condemning the decision to put EU accession on hold.
As Georgia grapples with this deepening political and constitutional crisis, the country’s future relations with the West and its path towards European integration remain uncertain. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the direction of the country and the fate of its pro-EU aspirations.
