On December 14, 2024, tens of thousands of pro-European Union protesters are anticipated to demonstrate in Georgia as the ruling party prepares to elect a new president. The election is set to be conducted by a 300-seat electoral college, which is largely dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The sole candidate, former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili, is known for his strong anti-Western views and opposition to LGBTQ rights.
The opposition has declared a boycott of the election, insisting that the current president, Salome Zourabichvili, remains the legitimate head of state. Zourabichvili has called for new parliamentary elections, following the disputed results of an October vote that confirmed the ruling party in power. The constitutional amendment in 2017 shifted the presidential election from a direct vote to an electoral college, a move seen as favoring pro-Russian sentiments.
Protests against the Georgian Dream party have intensified since late October, particularly after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a delay in EU accession negotiations until 2028. Opposition groups accuse the government of undermining democracy and moving closer to Russia, contrary to the nation's aspirations to join the EU.
Reports indicate that police have responded to protests with severe crackdowns, resulting in over 400 arrests. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the authorities for employing brutal tactics against demonstrators, including arbitrary detentions and torture.
International condemnation of the Georgian government's actions has increased, with Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, expressing solidarity with the pro-EU movement. Macron emphasized that the aspirations of the Georgian people for democracy and European integration should not be extinguished. Concurrently, the United States has imposed new sanctions on Georgian officials accused of undermining democratic processes.