Mass Protests in Georgia Over EU Membership Delay

Tens of thousands of Georgians protested for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday against the government’s decision to delay EU membership talks.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s refusal to call new elections has intensified unrest following the October 26 parliamentary elections, which the pro-European opposition claims were fraudulent.

The opposition is boycotting parliament, while President Salome Zurabishvili seeks to annul the election results, declaring the new government “illegitimate.” Protests erupted after Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would not pursue EU accession talks until 2028, leading to clashes between demonstrators and police, who used rubber bullets and tear gas.

Many public servants, including diplomats, have protested against the government’s decision, and constitutional experts warn that actions taken by the new parliament may be invalid due to procedural violations. The situation has drawn international condemnation, with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania announcing sanctions against those suppressing protests, while the U.S. State Department criticized the excessive use of force against demonstrators.