Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Georgia for a fourth consecutive night, expressing outrage at the ruling Georgian Dream partys decision to delay talks on the nations bid for European Union membership. The decision, coupled with allegations of electoral fraud and government authoritarianism, has plunged the country into political turmoil.

The protests, centered around the parliament in Tbilisi, have been marked by escalating tensions. Demonstrators launched fireworks at riot police, who responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. The clashes have drawn widespread condemnation, with the U.S. and human rights organizations decrying the use of excessive force by police. Dozens of protesters and journalists have been hospitalized, with reports of brutal beatings and pepper-spray attacks.

The ruling Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, has denied allegations of voter fraud and dismissed calls for early elections. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused opposition groups of spreading lies to incite unrest. However, critics argue that the governments recent movesincluding adopting Russian-style laws restricting civil society and LGBTQ+ rightssignal a drift away from Georgias pro-European aspirations.

A Nation Divided

Georgias pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, has emerged as a vocal government critic. In a defiant move, she has announced her intention to remain in office beyond her planned departure this month until new elections are held or “someone legitimate is elected”.

Calling the current parliament illegitimate, Zourabichvili has accused the government of rigging last months parliamentary elections through vote-buying, ballot-stuffing, and voter intimidation. The opposition has echoed these concerns, boycotting parliament and demanding international oversight for fresh elections.

The European Parliament has also weighed in, condemning the elections as a symptom of Georgias worsening democratic crisis and holding Georgian Dream responsible. The U.S. followed suit by suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia, citing anti-democratic actions and the governments retreat from its Euro-Atlantic commitments.

A European Future in Jeopardy

Georgias EU aspirations have long been enshrined in its constitution, with public opinion overwhelmingly favoring integration with Europe. However, Georgian Dream Party’s decision to postpone EU accession talks until 2028 has sparked fears that the government is aligning more closely with Moscow. This is particularly concerning for a nation where 20% of its territory remains under Russian occupation in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In addition to the protests in Tbilisi, demonstrations have spread to other cities, including Batumi, Kutaisi, and Zugdidi. The opposition has called for larger rallies next week, underscoring the deepening crisis. Several senior diplomats, including Georgias ambassador to the U.S., have resigned in protest over the governments handling of the EU talks.

Georgias human rights ombudsman, Levan Ioseliani, has urged the police to refrain from excessive force, describing their actions as brutality. Meanwhile, international observers have called for an independent investigation into the alleged election irregularities and a return to democratic norms.