Georgians march for EU future as key elections approach
On Sunday, thousands of people marched in Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, under the slogan "Georgia Chooses the EU." The country’s pro-Western president, Salome Zourabishvili, also participated in the demonstration. Key parliamentary elections related to this issue are scheduled for next Saturday in Georgia.
3:01 PM EDT, October 20, 2024
Supporters of the country's pro-European agenda gathered at five locations around the capital and marched to Freedom Square in the city center, where a massive demonstration was held, according to reports from Echo of the Caucasus (the Georgian branch of Radio Liberty) and apsny.ge.
The demonstration began with singing the national anthems of Georgia and the EU.
The president of Georgia took to the streets and addressed the demonstrators
The event, organized by non-governmental organizations, was supported by President Zourabishvili and the opposition. On Saturday, the president announced she would participate in the demonstration and urged Georgians to vote on October 26 for one of the opposition blocs.
She also called on citizens not to fear intimidation or threats.
Do not be afraid of anything. We are on the right path, and we will achieve our goal through peaceful elections, she declared.
The majority of Georgia's residents support integration with the European Union and oppose closer ties with Russia. Both the opposition and the president are pro-Western. In December 2023, the country was granted candidate status for the EU.
The ruling party, Georgian Dream, led by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili since 2012, is accused of steering Georgia toward Russia, dismantling democratic institutions, and weakening the country's pro-Western direction. The party faces criticism from the West, including concerns about the so-called foreign agents law.
The opposition and civil society fear that election results may be manipulated, leading to mass demonstrations potentially suppressed by the police.
