“Do you serve Russia or Georgia ?”

With two weeks to go before the presidential election in Georgia, political tensions are reaching a climax. The European Parliament recently rejected the legitimacy of the new Georgian Parliament, which was elected amid massive fraud. In response to this resolution, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidzé announced the suspension of the negotiation process for Georgia’s accession to the European Union until 2028. This decision exemplifies the claimed rapprochement between the ruling Georgian Dream party and Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

A political shift towards Moscow

For several months now, the Georgian Dream party, led by the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been signaling a rapprochement with Russia. Last May, the controversial adoption of a law inspired by Russian legislation on ‘foreign agents’ had already aroused strong opposition. The crisis was exacerbated by the October legislative elections, which were marred by large-scale fraud and manipulation, according to opposition claims and independent observers.

However, this pro-Russian shift runs counter to the aspirations of the vast majority of Georgians. For years, over 80% of the population has supported European integration, a goal seen as essential for the country’s development and democratic future.

A popular and institutional response

The announcement of the suspension of the European bid triggered a wave of indignation. That same evening, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tbilisi and other cities, denouncing what they saw as an undemocratic decision. Senior civil servants also spoke out against the government. Hundreds of senior civil servants signed manifestos condemning the Prime Minister’s actions and two Georgian ambassadors abroad announced their resignation in protest.

Tinatin Khidasheli, former Defence Minister, called for action in a poignant statement : ‘The time to act is now! Georgia’s modern history is being written today. The Georgian army must defend its people, its citizens, and its homeland. This is no time for hesitation. Either we fight for our future, or the door to freedom will close for this generation of Georgians.

In response to the peaceful mobilisation, the police, dressed in black, masked and without identifying numbers, responded with brutal repression. Tear gas, water cannons mixed with irritants and rubber bullets were used to disperse the crowds. Many demonstrators, journalists and political opponents were injured or arrested.

During one confrontation, President Salomé Zourabichvili spoke directly to a riot police officer, asking him an emblematic question : ‘Do you serve Russia or Georgia ? Who did you swear an oath to?

Democracy in retreat : a foregone conclusion to the election

The suspension of the European candidacy comes at a time when Georgia’s democratic institutions are becoming increasingly fragile. The presidential election, due to be held in a fortnight’ time, illustrates this worrying trend.

The ballot, formerly based on direct universal suffrage, has been replaced by a system in which a college of 300 electors will elect the next president. This reform has concentrated power in the hands of political figures loyal to Bidzina Ivanishvili’s regime.

Under these conditions, Mikheil Kavelashvili, the candidate nominated by the ruling party, is certain to win the election. A former footballer and pro-Russian hardliner, Kavelashvili notably drafted the law on ‘foreign agents’, used to suppress critical voices, whether from NGOs, journalists or political opponents.

This election, devoid of suspense and pluralism, symbolises the backward slide in democracy that the demonstrators are denouncing. It also embodies the fears of many Georgians that their country is moving definitively away from the European values that they so fiercely defend.

The last stand for the European dream

For many Georgians, these demonstrations are a last chance to preserve their European dream in the face of the nightmare of authoritarian drift and an alliance with Russia. Despite the risks involved, they continue to take to the streets every evening, determined to make their voices heard.

The European Union cannot remain a spectator. The Member States must react, support the Georgian people and prevent Russia from dashing their hopes of European integration in the region. This battle goes beyond Georgia’s borders: it concerns the future of democratic values in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.