Is Georgia experiencing its own Belarus moment?
Georgia is currently experiencing one of the most significant waves of protests in its recent history. The intensity of the protests, the high stakes involved and the repression by the authorities evoke comparisons to the 2020 protests in Belarus. However, how similar are these protests, and what can be said about the responses from the Georgian authorities, the European Union and other international actors?
The recent protests in Georgia have seen widespread mobilization across the country, with demonstrators employing various tactics to express their discontent with the government’s decision to suspend accession talks with the European Union. In Tbilisi, the capital, tens of thousands of protesters have gathered for consecutive nights, waving Georgian and EU flags while chanting slogans like “Russian slaves” at law enforcement officers.
February 28, 2025 -
Giselle Bosse
Wicke van den Broek
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AnalysisIssue 1-2 2025Magazine
Photo George Khelashvili / Shutterstock
The demonstrations have been largely peaceful. The mobilization has extended beyond Tbilisi, with reports of demonstrations in at least eight other cities and towns. In Khashuri, protesters targeted the local Georgian Dream party office, throwing eggs and tearing down the party’s flag. In the Black Sea city of Poti, demonstrators took more disruptive action by blocking access to the main commercial port. Protesters have also used social media effectively to organize and mobilize, leading authorities to target individuals managing these online groups.
Opposition parties and activist groups have played a significant role in coordinating the protests, despite facing police raids on their offices. The demonstrations have grown in scale, with more than 100,000 protesters reported in some instances. Protesters have employed tactics such as setting up roadblocks and using fireworks against police lines. Notably, the ongoing protests represent a significant shift in public engagement compared to previous demonstrations, extending beyond the usual supporters of the opposition. The protests now include people from various segments of Georgian society. Many diplomats and civil servants have resigned from their positions to protest the government’s decision, and these officials have openly supported the demonstrators. Some former ruling Georgian Dream party supporters have also joined the protests. This broad coalition of protesters, spanning different social and political groups, demonstrates the extent of public dissatisfaction with the government’s actions.
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belarus, Georgia, prisoners, protests
