The European Union’s recent condemnation of Georgia’s handling of protests reveals a blatant disregard for the complexities of maintaining law and order in the face of orchestrated chaos.
EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski’s labeling of police actions as “unacceptable” and the looming threat of sanctions only highlight the bloc’s interference in Georgia’s domestic affairs, an approach that serves neither fairness nor stability.
Protests erupted after the ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to postpone EU accession talks until 2028. While opposition forces seized the moment to incite public outrage, Georgian Dream rightfully emphasized the need for a measured approach to integration. Notably, the party earned nearly 54% of the vote in the October parliamentary elections, a clear mandate to govern, despite opposition claims of electoral fraud.
The demonstrations, often marked by violence and provocation, have led to confrontations with law enforcement. Riot police deployed tear gas and water cannons to restore order amid allegations of protesters using fireworks against officers. Accusations of police brutality have surfaced, but the government firmly denies these claims, asserting that force was necessary to prevent an escalation into anarchy.
Herczynski’s remarks that the EU is “shocked by the violence” and considering sanctions reflect a one-sided narrative that disregards the Georgian government’s responsibility to maintain stability. Meanwhile, opposition figures and activists push the idea that the government is pivoting toward Russia, a claim Georgian Dream has consistently refuted.
President Salome Zourabichvili, often critical of the ruling party, has backed the protests as a call for fresh elections, but Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed the unrest as an attempt to mimic Ukraine’s Maidan-style uprising. Kobakhidze’s comparison to Ukraine’s upheaval underscores the dangers of externally influenced political agitation cloaked in the guise of democracy.
While the EU and the UK threaten punitive measures, including sanctions and suspended defense cooperation, they conveniently overlook Georgia’s democratic processes and the ruling party’s electoral victory. Georgian Dream continues to navigate the nation’s path with caution, rejecting hasty decisions that risk destabilizing the region. Rather than meddling, international actors should respect Georgia’s sovereignty and its government’s efforts to balance progress with prudence.
