Georgians Protest Marking Anniversary of Controversial Elections

On October 26, marking the first anniversary of the contentious 2024 parliamentary vote, thousands of Georgians marched from Tbilisi’s Republic Square to the parliament, pledging to continue their fight "till the end" and "till victory" in the face of an increasing crackdown on protests by the ruling party.

The march and the parliament rally coincided with Day 333 of non-stop protests across Georgia’s major cities, including on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue, where daily rallies have come under increasing pressure since Georgian Dream authorities began enforcing stricter protest laws, The Caspian Post reports citing Civil Georgia.

Over the past days, up to a hundred protesters were detained for “blocking roads” or “covering faces” during demonstrations. They will face criminal charges if they repeat the acts.

A year after the vote - unrecognized by most opposition parties and voters amid widespread fraud allegations - and eleven months since non-stop protests erupted in response to Georgian Dream’s announcement halting EU integration, Georgia remains in a state of crisis. More than a hundred people - including protesters, opposition politicians, and a journalist - remain behind bars after being arrested during the protests and are either on trial or have already been convicted on criminal charges.

Georgian Dream authorities continue to struggle with international legitimacy, while Tbilisi’s relations with the West remain fragile and, in some cases, are deteriorating. The ruling party plans to appeal to the Constitutional Court to seek a ban on opposition parties and individuals from active politics.