Thousands of protesters formed a massive human chain in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, on Saturday, as the country teeters on the brink of a political crisis.
The demonstration comes ahead of the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City footballer and ally of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as the new president.
The outgoing president, Salome Zourabichvili, has refused to step down, denouncing Kavelashvili’s election as illegitimate. “I will not abandon this office to the Georgian Dream’s authoritarian grip,” she declared earlier this week.
Kavelashvili’s election has been mired in controversy. Selected through an electoral college system where he ran unopposed, his victory follows the Georgian Dream party’s contested win in October parliamentary elections, which the opposition claims were tainted by fraud.
The four main opposition parties have rejected Kavelashvili’s presidency and boycotted parliament, intensifying the country’s political standoff.
“This isn’t just about one election—it’s about the future of Georgia as a free and democratic nation,” a protester told the Associated Press during Saturday’s human chain demonstration, where Georgian and EU flags waved prominently.
The Georgian Dream party has faced widespread criticism for its increasingly authoritarian policies, including Russian-style laws targeting media outlets, foreign-funded NGOs, and the LGBT community. Its refusal to align with Western sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine has further alienated pro-European Georgians.
Although the country’s constitution enshrines its path toward EU membership, Georgian Dream announced in November that accession talks would be delayed until 2028, igniting days of protests. Riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons, prompting clashes with protesters who retaliated with fireworks and stones.
Adding to the tension, the United States recently imposed sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Dream’s billionaire founder and a former prime minister, citing his role in undermining democracy.
The party’s rhetoric, which includes labeling the West as a “global war party,” has drawn sharp criticism, with many seeing it as a betrayal of Georgia’s stated aspirations to join NATO and the EU.
Chioma Kalu
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