| 2024 Georgian post-election protests | |
| Date: | 28 October 2024 – present |
| Place: | Georgia |
| Causes: |
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| Goals: |
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| Side1: | Opposition
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| Side2: | Kobakhidze government
Parliamentary majority |
| Leadfigures1: | Salome Zourabichvili Nika Gvaramia Nika Melia Zurab Japaridze Elene Khoshtaria Tinatin Bokuchava Mamuka Khazaradze Giorgi Gakharia |
| Leadfigures2: | Irakli Kobakhidze Irakli Garibashvili Shalva Papuashvili Vakhtang Gomelauri Grigol Liluashvili |
| Howmany1: | Protesters: around 200,000[1] |
| Howmany2: | Law enforcement officers: unclear |
| Injuries: | 113 police officers injured (28 November–1 December)[2] |
| Arrests: | 224 (28 November–2 December)[3] |
On 28 October, protests against the 2024 Georgian parliamentary election results began in Georgia after the preliminary official results were announced. The demonstrators claimed that the elections, which saw the ruling Georgian Dream win a majority of seats, were fraudulent, and alternatively demanded a recount and a new election. Additional protests were held on 4 November near the parliament building, where the opposition parties unveiled their strategy to tackle the election results. The protests continued on 17 November, when the final results were certified by the Central Election Commission of Georgia. The scope of the protests was broadened on 28 November, when the government announced that it would postpone the EU negotiations process until 2028.
On 28 October, tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Tbilisi to protest the results of the recent parliamentary elections, which President Salome Zourabichvili criticized as rife with irregularities.[4] Addressing the crowd, Zourabichvili claimed the ruling Georgian Dream party employed tactics akin to those used in Russia, arguing that the election results did not accurately reflect voters' intentions. Officially, Georgian Dream was reported to have won over 54 percent of the vote, securing the parliamentary majority. President Zourabichvili, in her address, reassured demonstrators, stating, "You did not lose the election. They stole your vote and tried to steal your future". Election observers in Georgia noted alleged violations, suggesting a possible scheme to favor Georgian Dream. The European Union, several of its members like Germany and France, and the United States have called for an investigation into these allegations, with the ambassador of the European Union to Georgia Paweł Herczyński stating that "international observers have not declared the elections to be free and fair. Neither have they declared the contrary".[5] [6] The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell called on the Central Election Commission of Georgia (CEC) to "swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof".[7] The President of the European Council Charles Michel stated that the allegations of irregularities "must be seriously clarified and addressed".[8] Meanwhile, other countries like Hungary, China, and Turkey have congratulated the Georgian Dream on the victory in the election.[9] [10] On 30 October, the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia launched an investigation into the election fraud allegations.[11] On 4 November, opposition parties in Tbilisi staged another rally outside the Georgian parliament, unveiling a strategy to contest the election results. The opposition, rejecting the legitimacy of the October 26 elections, claimed the vote was compromised by widespread fraud, prompting daily protests.[12] Opposition leaders announced that protests would be daily and would intensify over time and urged supporters to gather across Tbilisi in large numbers to obstruct parliament access and maintain visible pressure on authorities. Transparency International Georgia reported several instances of electoral misconduct, including unauthorized voting with confiscated IDs, which they partly attributed to negligence by the Central Election Commission (CEC).[13] The opposition's action plan included demands for repeat elections, non-recognition of the new parliament's legitimacy, and the launch of a coordinated resistance movement that will begin in Tbilisi and expand nationwide.[14]
On 12 November, another protest was held in front of parliament, where speeches were delivered by the chairpersons of the foreign relations committees of Germany, Finland, Sweden, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.[15] [16] Prior to the protest, they also held meetings with President Zourabichvili.[17]
On 14 November, students at Batumi State University went on strike, accusing the election administration of aligning with the Georgian Dream and demanding new elections. After occupying the university, they faced heating and electricity cuts but continued their protest outside, urging nationwide support. Solidarity protests spread to Tbilisi, with students from Ilia State University, Tbilisi State University, Caucasus University, the Medical University, and GIPA joining, while universities in Kutaisi also expressed support.[18]
On 15 November, a court in Tbilisi dismissed 11 lawsuits filed by opposition parties and civil society groups questioning the conduct of the election, during which the CEC was the defendant.[19] As the CEC officially certified the result the next day, its chair, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, was doused with black paint by CEC commissioner David Kirtadze, a member of the opposition United National Movement, who said that the official results of the vote did not reflect the electorate's "true choice".[20]
On 17 November, a large rally took place in front of the Parliament building, while the Coalition for Change, initiated a parallel protest near Tbilisi State University on Chavchavadze Avenue. The group blocked the avenue, set up tents, and announced a 24-hour sit-in. The protest remained peaceful as activists erected tents, with police refraining from intervention. By evening, demonstrators from Rustaveli Avenue joined the group at the university.[21]
However, tensions escalated on 19 November, when police forcefully dismantled the protest camp at dawn. At least 16 people were arrested, including a cameraman for the opposition television channel Mtavari Arkhi. Despite the initial setback, protesters regrouped and reclaimed Chavchavadze Avenue by the evening.[22]
On 18 November, Zourabichvili filed a lawsuit with Constitutional Court, seeking to annul the results of the election. A statement from her office declared the election results "unconstitutional," citing violations of the principles of universality and secrecy.[23] [24]
Later, outrage erupted after riot police used Tbilisi State University grounds to disperse peaceful protesters on 19 November, sparking accusations of the university enabling the crackdown. Student Movements and lecturers demanded the Rector's resignation, accusing TSU of betraying academic values. While the Interior Ministry denied using TSU as a base, protests and condemnation from professors and students across Georgia continued, highlighting TSU's alleged lack of independence under the Georgian Dream government.[25] Several activists and students from different universities entered TSU's main campus as part of the ongoing protest and started a strike demanding resignation.[26]
The new parliament held its inaugural session on 25 November, with only 88 MPs from Georgian Dream in attendance. President Zourabichvili boycotted the session, while protests continued outside the parliament building.[27] Constitutional experts said the self-inauguration of Parliament without the president calling this session is in violation of the constitution, challenging the legitimacy of parliament and calling it a "power grab".[28] [29] According to the Georgian constitution, it is the president's task to call the inaugural session of parliament. She refused to do so as she rejected the election results as rigged, questioning the legitimacy of parliament.[30] President Zourabichvili called the convocation of parliament "unconstitutional",[31] while the chair of the parliament Shalva Papuashvili accused Zourabichvili of violating constitution in response, saying that according to constitution the new parliament must be convened no later than 10 days after official announcement of results by the Central Election Commission.[32]
On 28 November, the new convocation of the Parliament of Georgia confirmed the government of Irakli Kobakhidze, who made several changes to its composition.[33] The official program was titled "Towards Europe with Peace, Dignity, and Prosperity", which the ruling party has adopted as a slogan during the pre-election campaign with its emphasis on "joining the European Union only whilst playing by Georgian rules, avoiding being drawn into Russo-Ukrainian war and preserving the traditional values".[34] [35] [36] On the same day, the European Parliament passed the resolution demanding the new elections in Georgia "under international supervision". It has also called the European Commission to impose sanctions on the leaders of the Georgian government.[37] In the evening, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a press briefing. He announced the unilateral suspension of EU accession, as well as rejecting any budgetary grants and loans from the EU until 2028. Kobakhidze said that EU accession and grants have been used as a "naked instrument of blackmail" by EU bodies such as the European Parliament, citing the resolutions adopted by the EP in the past years regarding Georgia. He condemned "interference by some European politicians and bureaucrats in parliamentary elections", as well as their alleged "attempts to incite revolution in Georgia". Kobakhidze said that Georgia would continue implementing the Georgia—European Union Association Agreement, and would revive the topic of opening the accession negotiations with the European Union in 2028, after strengthening its economy.[38] Hours later, Russian president Vladimir Putin praised the move, saying he "admired [the administration's] courage and character, which they showed when defending their point of view".[39] The protests against the decision began in front of Georgian parliament during the same day and have continued for the next days, primarily in Tbilisi but also in other cities including Batumi, Poti, Zugdidi, and Kutaisi.[40]
Parliament also set a date for the 2024 Georgian presidential election on 14 December. After the 2017 constitutional reform, the president is no longer elected by popular vote but instead through a 300-member Electoral College, including all 150 MPs, all representatives from the supreme councils of the Abkhazian and Adjaran autonomous republics, and local bodies.[41] [42] Georgian Dream, holding a majority in the Electoral College, nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili, a member of its ally People's Power, to the presidency.[43] Zourabichvili, the last president to be elected by popular vote, has rejected the legitimacy of the current parliament and has said that she will not step down as president "until the legitimate parliament is elected that will legitimately elect [a replacement]".[44] Kobakhidze responded by saying "of course on 29 December she'll have to leave".[45]
The protests have been marked with violence against protesters, journalists, and police.[46] [47] RFE/RL journalist Tamuna Chkareuli reported that she had "never experienced this level of aggression from the police before".[48] Amnesty International has said that "this recurring pattern of violence and human rights violations, well-documented since last year’s protests, reveals the Georgian government’s strategy to deploy the full machinery of the state to punish and suppress dissent". Meanwhile, Kobakhidze has said that protestors, not police, are responsible for "systemic violence".[49] He has called the protests "violent demonstrations" while alleging the involvement of "foreign entities",[50] including saying that the protests are funded from abroad. Protesters have been recorded attacking the police with Molotov cocktails and pyrotechnic devices.[51] Police have used tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray,[52] as well as water cannons that protestors and journalists allege have been laced with chemicals or allergens.[53] [54] Georgian rights ombudsman Levan Ioseliani said that injuries sustained by protestors give a "credible impression" of punitive violence by police that "constitutes an act of torture".[55] On 2 December, the Minister of Internal Affairs reported that 224 protestors have been arrested in recent days, with charges including petty hooliganism and disobeying lawful police orders, and that 113 police officers have been injured since November 28.
On 2 December, opposition leader Zurab Japaridze was arrested, though he was released a few hours later. As an MP, he has immunity from arrest and prosecution.[56] His party, the Coalition for Change, alleged that he was targeted by police.[57] On 4 December another opposition leader, Nika Gvaramia, was arrested.[58] The CfC said he was "thrown into a detention car as he was physically assaulted and unconscious".