We continue our live coverage of the fallout and widespread protests that have come in the wake of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement that Georgia would be halting its EU accession process.

We’re ending our live coverage for now, but will be back later for more from Georgia. You can read a summary of the day’s events here.

As the free press in Georgia comes under attack, please consider becoming an OC Media member to help support our work.

Clashes between protesters and police continue despite heavy rain

Late on Sunday night, the police dispersal operation continued amidst the beginning of heavy rain and almost freezing temperatures. Police have continued to deploy tear gas and water cannons as demonstrators push back with fireworks and the construction of barricades on Rustaveli Avenue.

 

Public Broadcaster claims its journalists are being pressured

Georgia’s Public Broadcaster claimed that its journalists were being pressured during the demonstration.

‘Viewers are watching the unprecedented pressure on Pirveli Arkhi [Public Broadcaster] journalists live, especially representatives of certain TV stations who are acting deliberately and provocatively, and it is impossible for us to work’, the statement read.

The Public Broadcaster said that Pirveli Arkhi ‘has been and will remain free and will protect its editorial independence despite any pressure’.

Riot police begin dispersing protesters from the area in front of parliament 

Hundreds of law enforcement officers and riot police armed with water cannons began pushing protesters away from the parliament toward the centre of Rustaveli Avenue late on Sunday night. The dispersal operation was accompanied by warnings issued via loudspeaker for the demonstrators to depart the area.

Main opposition groups call for Georgian citizens to ‘demand paid leave’ from work and start a ‘common, national resistance movement’

Local media reported that the four main opposition groups, the For Georgia party, Coalition for Change, Unity – National Movement, and Strong Georgia, released a statement urging citizens to ‘demand paid leave as provided for by the Labor Code and [...] use [their] free time in a common, national resistance movement'.

‘Georgian companies that value Georgia’s freedom, independence, and democracy: Please grant such leave without hindrance during these crucial days and thereby support your fellow citizens’ fight for Georgia’s European future’, the statement read.

European Council President Costa and EU's top diplomat Kallas hold call with Zourabichvili

European Council President António Costa and Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, held a phone call with President Salome Zourabichvili.

Had a call with @Zourabichvili_S together with @kajakallas.

We condemn the violence against peaceful protestors.

Actions of government run counter to the will of the people. The EU stands with the people of #Georgia. pic.twitter.com/OxapgXsafB

— António Costa (@eucopresident) December 1, 2024

Deputy Interior Minister urges parents and guardians to protect minors amid ongoing protests

Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze called on parents and guardians of minors to ‘act in accordance with the best interests of the child and protect minors from violent environments’.

According to Darakhvelidze, ‘the actions of the protesters repeatedly exceeded the limits of peaceful assembly as provided for by law’.

Darakhvelidze stated that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is actively investigating all criminal acts ‘committed by violent groups within the framework of the ongoing protests’.

Danish MFA says ‘actions of the Georgian government have direct consequences for relations between the EU and Georgia’

The Danish Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that ‘violence against peaceful demonstrators’ in Georgia is ‘completely unacceptable’. 

‘The actions of the Georgian government have direct consequences for relations between the EU and Georgia’, the ministry said.

Opposition lawmaker Khabeishvili said riot police tried to detain him

Levan Khabeishvili, one of the leaders of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party, told the media that around 15 masked riot police officers attacked him and tried to detain him at the protest by the parliament,  but people nearby intervened. Khabeishvili is the chair of UNM’s political council. 

Khabeishvili linked his attempted arrest to an alleged order from the head of the Special Tasks Department, Zviad Kharazishvili, who has been sanctioned by the US.

During this year’s anti foreign agent law protests, when Khabeishvili was chair of the UNM, he and other opposition figures were beaten by riot police. Khabeishvili had visible injuries on his head and face and was taken to hospital.

GYLA: more than 200 people have been detained since 28 November

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) stated that from 28 November  to 1 December, ‘the Legal Aid Network hotline received information about more than 200 arrests’. 

GYLA reported that among the detainees are minors, women, journalists, representatives of the cultural sphere and employees of non-governmental organisations.

‘Yesterday [...] during the ongoing protest, more than 50 people were arrested, including more than 39 who have already been visited by our lawyers in detention centers’, the organisation reported.

GYLA said many detainees have spoken about brutal treatment and psychological violence at the hands of the police.

Human rights defenders are demanding the immediate release of the detainees and their charges to be dropped. 

The Interior Ministry has not reported how many people have been arrested since yesterday evening.

Riot police deploy water cannon outside parliament

Riot police started deploying a water cannon against demonstrators near the parliament. A journalist from Mtavari Arkhi said there was no warning from police on Chichinadze street before the water cannon was used.

Lithuanian FM says Baltic states will enact joint sanctions against those responsible for protest crackdown

The three Baltic States jointly agreed to impose national sanctions against those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia. Opponents of democracy and violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries. 🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇬🇪

— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) December 1, 2024

Zourabichvili: Civil protest must remain as it is, with its spontaneity, freedom, and self-organisation

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said at a press briefing on Sunday night that civil protest must remain as it is [currently], with, according to her, its spontaneity, freedom, and self-organisation.

Zourabichvili said ‘we all agreed that there is no need for any political parties or my intervention [in the demonstrations], but there is a need for support and protection’.

She also clarified that ‘support and protection’ means legal protection for people arrested at protests and also, in the future, the creation of a public fund that will help cover the fines of demonstrators.

Zourabichvili urged protesters to be careful and said that there may be State Security Service officers mingling among the crowd.

Rumors that Georgians fighting in Ukraine are preparing to join the protests are false, she added.

Alongside Tbilisi, protests continue in cities across Georgia

While protests have remained largest in Tbilisi, demonstrations against the U-turn on EU accession have also broken out in Batumi, Rustavi, Zugdidi, and elsewhere across the country.

Public Broadcaster: we are ready to give Zourabichvili airtime

The Georgian Public Broadcaster announced that it was ready to give airtime to President Salome Zourabichvili for an interview.

‘We are ready to welcome Salome Zourabichvili to the Public Broadcaster today and give her airtime’, the statement read.

Riot police mobilised at Batumi demonstration

Police officers are mobilised in front of Batumi  City Court, where protesters have been gathered to demand the release of those detained during demonstrations. 

Batumelebi reported that riot police have been mobilised near the courthouse.

On Saturday, Batumelebi reported that eight people were arrested at the demonstration, including a minor and one woman.

Georgian Foreign Ministry: we condemn pressure on Georgian diplomats

The Foreign Ministry of Georgia stated they ‘condemn the pressure exerted on Georgia’s diplomatic service and the calls for sabotage’.

The ministry did not specify who is  allegedly  exerting pressure and calling for sabotage, but the statement was  likely referring to assertions from President Salome Zourabichvili and leaders of opposition political parties that the silence of Georgian diplomats amid the ongoing protests and police crackdown could be considered a crime.

Police hose protesters with water from firetrucks

In front of the parliament, law enforcement officers used hoses connected to firetrucks to spray water at demonstrators. 

At the same time, protesters continue to use fireworks against law enforcement officers.

Kobakhidze floats conspiracy theories about foreign organisation of protests

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze hinted at a briefing today that demonstrations near the parliament ‘might be organised by foreign’ individuals.

Kobakhidze said law enforcement officers had detained Russian citizens, as well as a British citizen, ‘who illegally entered the parliament building’.

‘We may be dealing with foreign [individuals]  who are organising violent groups’, he said.

‘This issue needs to be investigated with particular attention, what did such a group of Russian violent [people] want in Georgia, at whose behest they arrived and what instructions they were given [...], what did the British instructor want, why did [they] break into the parliament building, on whose orders were these people acting, all this is subject to investigation’, he said.

Demonstrators demand resignation of public broadcaster’s director and chair of the board of trustees

Demonstrators gathered in front of Georgia's Public Broadcaster gave Director Tinatin Berdzenishvili and Chair of the Board of Trustees Vasil Maghlaperidze half an hour to resign.

Riot police with water cannons mobilise

According to local media, law enforcement officers are mobilised at all entrances to the Parliament.

IPN reported that riot police have mobilised at the rear entrance to the Parliament building. A water cannon has also appeared on the scene.

Interior Ministry says an individual has been arrested for setting fire to electrical wires in Parliament

The Interior Ministry stated one person was arrested for ‘setting fire to the electrical wires and block of video surveillance cameras installed on a pole in the Parliament building during a protest’.

According to the investigation, the suspect, who is ‘a member of one of the political parties’, set fire to the wires on Friday.

If found guilty, the accused might face up to six years in prison.

Police say two people have already been detained amid Sunday’s ongoing protest

According to Vazha Siradze, Head of the Patrol Police Department, two people were detained during the ongoing protest near the Parliament.

‘As soon as the protest began, certain individuals began engaging in various illegal activities, including throwing various objects at the entrance to the parliament, breaking an iron fence, and breaking windows, from which they set fires in rooms’, Siradze told the local media.

Zourabichvili to speak at 21:00

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili will hold a briefing at 21:00.

According to the local media, the president has been meeting with the leaders of the political parties to consult on the ongoing situation in Georgia.

Latvian FM says EU is discussing sanctions against Georgian officials

Baiba Braže, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, posted on X that the EU  is ‘currently discussing with our partners proposals for sanctions against officials of Georgia’.

Batumi protest begins

Batumelebi has reported that a protest in Batumi, western Georgia, has begun.

EU Commission’s Kallas and Kos express ‘serious concerns about continuous democratic backsliding

High Representative and Vice-President of the Commission Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos have stated that the EU reiterates its ‘serious concerns about the continuous democratic backsliding’ of Georgia, including the irregularities which took place in the run-up and during the recent Parliamentary elections. 

‘In this context, the EU is looking forward to the OSCE/ODIHR final report and its recommendations’.

Papuashvili accuses protesters of damaging 48 rooms in parliament

Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has claimed that 48 rooms inside the parliament building were damaged by protesters.

RFE/RL quoted Papuashvili as saying that many people believed that the parliament was not stormed and that the demonstrators only left graffiti on its facade. Papuashvili said that this was not true and, as proof of this, showed footage of the damaged rooms inside parliament and listed what was damaged as a result of what he called ‘last night’s attack’.

Police mobilise near parliament

Police are mobilising on 9 April Street, a street on the side of parliament. 

Protesters in front of parliament are banging on the building’s iron fence and throwing objects and fireworks into its courtyard.

RFE/RL’s detained producer found in Sagarejo

RFE/RL’s producer Beka Beradze, who was detained by riot police during last night’s protest, has been found at the Sagarejo Detention Centre — reportedly beaten.

His lawyer, Jano Chkadua, told RFE/RL that Beradze has visible injuries on his forehead.

He has been charged with petty theft and resisting the police, and will be put on trial in two days.

Protest in front of Public Broadcaster in Tbilisi

In parallel to the protest in front of parliament, protesters have also gathered at the Public Broadcaster’s headquarters to demand airtime for the protests, President Salome Zourabichvili, and the leaders of the opposition.

Formula cited journalist Sopo Khuntsaria as calling on Mtavari Arkhi, TV Pirveli, and Formula to air any interviews shown on the Public Broadcaster’s broadcast with leaders of the opposition ‘so that as many viewers as possible know what we are dealing with’.

Soon after this, Formula, Mtavari Arkhi, and Pirveli joined calls for the Public Broadcaster to air a broadcast of Zourabichvili and the leaders of the opposition.

Protesters in Tbilisi are holding a demonstration in front of the Public Broadcaster's headquarters in parallel to the one in front of parliament. They demand that the channel give the protests and opposition figures airtime.

🔴 Live updates: https://t.co/0S7J81JjRD pic.twitter.com/ht4YhlcwsC

— OC Media (@OCMediaorg) December 1, 2024

We are more than three days into covering the fallout and protests against the government’s announcement to suspend EU integration. Our staff, both on the street and in the newsroom, are working overtime to bring you updates on what is happening in Tbilisi’s streets, with many of us being subjected to police harassment, water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray. You can help continue this work becoming an OC Media member. Along with supporting our journalism, you will receive a host of benefits including exclusive newsletters, a daily news brief, and more.

Protesters march to Rustaveli Avenue

Protesters have marched from the intersection in front of Tbilisi State University to Rustaveli Avenue, where parliament is located. IPN reported that the road is now blocked.

Von der Leyen criticises government’s ‘shift away from EU’

EU Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen has taken to X to criticise Georgian Dream’s ‘shift away from the EU’, stressing that ‘the return of Georgia on the EU path is in the hands of the Georgian leadership.’

We regret the Georgian leadership's shift away from the EU and its values.

The EU stands with the people of Georgia and their choice for a European future.

The door to the EU remains open.

The return of Georgia on the EU path is in the hands of the Georgian leadership.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 1, 2024

Balenciaga’s Georgian creative director speaks out against EU accession suspension.

Demna Gvaslia, Balenciaga’s Georgian creative director, has spoken out against the suspension of EU accession with an Instagram post captioned ‘Georgia is Europe!

Tbilisi International Film Festival cancels Georgian film screenings

The 24th edition of the Tbilisi International Film Festival, which was set to open today, has cancelled its showings of Georgian films, writing on Instagram that they will offer the ‘Georgian Panorama’ programme to the audience ‘when the country returns to Europe’.

‘We give our full support to the participants of the protests and consider the Tbilisi Film Festival as an integral part of these protests, because every film that we show to our audience at the festival tells us about the fight for human freedom, equality, and truth’, the festival organisers wrote, in addition to strongly condemning the ‘violent actions of the state against the peaceful demonstrators participating in the protests in Tbilisi’. 

While they will not screen tonight’s opening film, the festival still invites attendees to Amirani Cinema to hear Georgian cinematographers discuss their position regarding current events in the country. 

Actress accuses riot police of assaulting her

In a post on Facebook, actress and TV presenter Natia Bunturi accused the riot police of taking her to a side street and physically assaulting her.

She said that the riot police helped her up after stumbling down during the protest before beating her.

‘When I was being led away, I asked several times, “Please don’t hit me”. They took me to a side street, on their side [of the protest], and they were the only ones stationed there. We stood against the wall of the building, me and about four of them around me’, she wrote.

She said that the riot police asked her questions and told her to go home, before hitting her twice in the head.

‘My nose was bleeding […] I couldn’t say anything or do anything’, she said.

‘One of them soon took me away and led me to my [people]’.

Protesters egg Georgian Dream office in Khashuri

Formula has reported that protesters are marching through Khashuri in protest against the suspension of EU accession.

The TV channel has reported that among those protesting were teachers and students. Demonstrators have egged Georgian Dream’s office in the city and toppled their flag as a sign of protest.

Over 300 Public Registry employees criticise EU accession suspension 

More than 310 employees of the National Agency of Public Registry of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia have criticised Georgian Dream’s decision to suspend EU accession and condemned violence against protesters.

In a joint statement, the employees condemned ‘any kind of violence’ and called on law enforcement to ‘stop physical confrontation with the citizens of Georgia’.

‘[We] distance ourselves from all those actions and decisions that contradict the Constitution of Georgia itself and specifically its Article 78’, they said.

Article 78 of the constitution stipulates that the authorities ‘shall take all measures’ towards EU integration.

Kaladze threatens to ‘transfer’ Tbilisi City Hall staff for criticising Georgian Dream

Georgian Dream’s General Secretary and the Mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze has threatened to ‘transfer’ City Hall staff for opposing Georgian Dream’s suspension of EU accession.

‘This is understandable to me. Last week, we announced a reorganisation at the City Hall. It’s good, it’s self-lustration. Everyone has their own path. These people are choosing this path, it’s up to them […]. Transfers are planned’, said Kaladze.

‘May God bless everyone on their own path’.

Officials in Georgia, most notably former Culture Minister Tea Tsulukiani, referred to firing staff members from public organisations and agencies as ‘reorganisation’.

Protesters still in front of Tbilisi State University

A few hundred protesters are still gathered at the intersection in front of Tbilisi State University.

Those gathered are playing music, dancing, and sharing food, with some gathered around fires to keep warm.

Protesters in Tbilisi are now camped at the intersection in front of Tbilisi State University, with some having been there since yesterday's protest.

🔴 Live updates: https://t.co/0S7J81JjRD pic.twitter.com/j9ml3tD2aT

— OC Media (@OCMediaorg) December 1, 2024

EU Commission vice president: This will have direct consequences from the EU

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas posted on X saying that the EU regrets ‘signals from ruling [Georgian Dream] party not to pursue Georgia’s path to EU and democratic backsliding of the county’.

‘This will have direct consequences from [the] EU side’, she said.

We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future.

We condemn the violence against protesters & regret signals from ruling party not to pursue Georgia's path to EU and democratic backsliding of the county.

This will have direct consequences from EU side.

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) December 1, 2024

Protest in Ozurgeti

According to local media, in Ozurgeti, Western Georgia, several hundred people gathered to demonstrate and launch a rally.

The demonstration is reportedly attended by representatives of political parties and civil activists.

Medvedev suggests Georgia ‘moving along Ukrainian path’

Dmitri Medvedev, former Russian President and current Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council, posted on Telegram saying that Georgia ‘is attempting’ another coloured revolution’. 

Medvedev claimed that protesters in Georgia were ‘shouting in the streets, smashing and setting everything on fire, while the other part was silent’. 

He called President Salome Zourabichvili an ‘expired president’ and a ‘crazy woman’, who ‘babbled that she would not vacate her seat because she did not recognise the elections’.

‘For this, they used to hang people on lampposts. Now is a humane time. It will pass. All the prerequisites are present for once again plunging Georgia into the abyss of civil conflicts, forcing it to choose between the insolent EU, NATO, and Pindostan [a derogatory name for the US], on the one hand, and the ancient land of Sakartvelo [Georgia], on the other’.

‘In short, the neighbours are quickly moving along the Ukrainian path into the dark abyss. Usually, this ends very badly’.

Kobakhidze accuses Biden of leaving ‘difficult legacy’ for Trump’s upcoming administration

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said that the US’ suspension of the strategic partnership agreement with Georgia signalled that the current administration was ‘trying to leave the most difficult legacy possible to the new administration, the Trump administration’.

‘This will have no principled significance, we will wait for the new administration and discuss everything with the new administration’, said Kobakhidze, adding that the suspension was ‘temporary’, and so was President Salome Zourabichvili’s term.

German Parliament’s Roth praises protest movement

Michael Roth, the chair of the German Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, has written a post in support of the protesters in Georgia.

And once again Tbilisi is the true capital of Europe.

Here, like nowhere else, the fight for the true Europe is taking place. A Europe of freedom and democracy. A Europe without fear and oppression.

Stay safe, dear friends in Georgia! You will prevail! 🇬🇪🇪🇺🫶 pic.twitter.com/wHeR1ntGHY

— Michael Roth - official 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪 (@MiRo_SPD) December 1, 2024

Health Ministry: 27 protesters, 16 law enforcement officials injured

According to the Health Ministry, 44 people were transferred to clinics  as a result of injuries sustained during the protest this morning, among them 27 protesters, one journalist, and 16 Interior Ministry staff.

The ministry said that some of those admitted to receive medical care have already been discharged, while others remain hospitalised under the supervision of doctors.

They said that none of those injured are in critical conditions.

Kobakhidze criticises EU for not condemning ‘violent protest’

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze once again thanked the Interior Minister and the police for having ‘operated at a higher standard than American and European standards’ and protecting the ‘state from another attempt to undermine constitutional order’.

Kobakhidze also said that it was ‘worrying that the EU has not condemned the gross systemic violence perpetrated by violent groups in this case either’. 

‘I would like to remind you that such facts seriously damage the trust of Georgian society in European institutions’, he said.

Kobakhidze reiterated that the government has not stopped the European integration process and that they ‘are further intensifying our efforts to ensure Georgia’s membership in the European Union in 2030’.

Journalist resigns from pro-government Rustavi 2 in protest

Rustavi 2’s correspondent in Brussels, Tamara Nutsubidze, has posted on X saying that she was leaving the pro-government tv channel.

‘After 25 years  covering major events, nothing has meant more to me than reporting on  Georgia's EU journey. But today, we seem farther from the EU than ever, and now I feel a personal responsibility to our people’, she wrote.

Zourabichvili: this country needs stability, everything is falling apart

In an interview with the BBC, President Salome Zourabichvili reiterated that she was staying on as president.

She said that she will remain president ‘until the time when [a president] is legitimately elected by a legitimately elected parliament’.

‘This country needs stability, everything is falling apart’, she said. ‘There is not a single independent institution left in the country except for the presidency, all the other institutions are dominated by one-party rule and, in the party, one-man rule’.

She praised Georgia’s ‘vibrant’ civil society, which she said is stepping up ‘because the state is falling apart’.

Unity – National Movement’s Bokuchava blames Georgian diplomats for cancellation of US partnership

‘Except for the oligarch, it is the fault of every diplomat who is silent today and serves the Russian regime, which deprives our country not only of its Euro-Atlantic future, but also of its statehood’, said Tina Bokuchava, the chair of the United National Movement party and a leader of the Unity — National Movement group.

She called Georgian Dream’s u-turn on the country’s Euro-Atlantic course a ‘constitutional coup’, and expressed hope that more Georgian diplomats would resign in protest.

RFE/RL says journalist was detained as he was covering the protest

RFE/RL has reported that their producer, Beka Beradze, was detained as he was covering the protest behind parliament. 

Beradze’s whereabouts were unknown as of 08:00, according to RFE/RL.

Protests continue overnight

The protest in Tbilisi has continued overnight, with Netgazeti reporting at around 07:00 that the riot police pushed the last groups of protesters off of Rustaveli.

As of 11:30, around 200 protesters were present on the intersection connecting Melikishvili Street and Chavchavadze Avenue.

Key events from yesterday

• Around 100,000 people gathered on Rustaveli Avenue to protest the government’s decision to halt Georgia’s EU accession process.
• Protests have also intensified in other Georgian cities, including Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori, Rustavi, Khashuri, Poti, and Zugdidi. 
• The US has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia, citing Georgian Dream’s ‘various anti-democratic actions’.
• At least four Georgian ambassadors have resigned in protest against the government’s handling of the protests.
• President Salome Zourabichvili has vowed to remain in office after her term expires in December, stating that an illegitimate parliament cannot appoint her successor.