Cover Photo Credit: Vakho Kareli

On Friday, November 29th, 2024, the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the Georgian government is halting negotiations regarding the country’s accession to the European Union. This decision sparked significant anger in Georgian society, and for almost a week now, mass pro-European, cross generational demonstrations have broken out in 43 cities across Georgia. 

Activists are peacefully protesting this violation of Georgia’s constitution and turn in the country’s historic path towards the EU, on which government and opposition have agreed to in the past was the direction for Georgia. Protesters also oppose the massively rigged and frauded parliamentary elections, growing governmental authoritarian tendencies and recurring police violence.

WECF supports the people’s demand for free, democratic re-elections, so that the Georgian population can determine their own country’s geopolitical course.  

Escalating police violence to peaceful protesters  

The police and special forces are using extremely violent methods to silence the peaceful demonstrators and spreading fear in Georgian society. As the protests continue, the Georgian Police are using tear gas and water cannons to disperse manifestations. It is alarming that the police, and government affiliated groups are brutally attacking journalists and demonstrators, employing violent methods against them, and blatantly violating human rights 

Hundreds of peaceful protesters, including journalists, activists and opposition politicians, have been taken to hospitals with facial bone fractures and other health-related injuries. The police are conducting invasive raids of the private homes and offices of activists, bloggers, demonstrators, as well as searching and arresting participants of pro-European demonstrations at metro stations, brutally beating and attacking demonstrators in cars and buildings, and raiding and arresting the leaders of the political opposition at their offices. Moreover, the Georgian Dream is launching a disinformation campaign and employing Russian-style tactics to delegitimize protesters’ voices and manipulate public opinion, further threatening democratic and civil spaces. 

WECF stands in support of the Georgian people, we call on all to join us. 

 We emphasize that these worrying escalations are not only Georgians’ struggle. Georgia is one of the battlegrounds of Russia’s hybrid war and extreme violence, which is being used against the demonstrators. If we cannot support Georgia enough and help them ending the state violence, such far-right patterns will spread across Europe gradually. Georgia already experienced Russia’s aggression in previous years when Russia invaded Georgia, and they have now occupied 20% of the country.  

WECF’s team strongly supports the people of Georgia and its local partners, including the WECF Georgia branch office in its ongoing efforts to address backsliding against human rights and democratic rights and institutions in the country. This includes fighting against unprecedented ongoing police violence against demonstrators and journalists, resisting against anti-gender and disinformation campaigns and to protect and save civic spaces. 

How can you support? 

• Spread information and raise awareness about the inacceptable State violence and rollback of rights in Georgia  
• Tell your policy makers to support civil society, queer-rights and ecofeminists in Georgia 
• Stay in touch/ stay close with your friends, colleagues from Georgia and share their personal stories/ fights