Two Georgia opposition leaders arrested at anti-government protest
Guardian2 days
Republic of Georgia Arrests Opposition Leaders Amid EU Membership Protests
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Above: As hundreds of protesters tried to block a highway near the Tbilisi Mall, police made numerous arrests, including two opposition leaders on February 2, 2025. Image copyright: Jerome Gilles/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Facts
Georgian police arrested opposition leaders Nika Melia and Gigi Ugulava during mass protests in Tbilisi on Sunday, as thousands of demonstrators attempted to block a highway entrance to the capital.
The nation has faced daily protests since the October parliamentary elections, where the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory, but opposition groups rejected the results as fraudulent.
The demonstrations intensified after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Nov. 28 that Georgia would delay European Union membership talks until 2028, marking a significant shift in the country's previously established constitutional goal of EU integration.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The Georgian government's actions represent necessary law enforcement measures to maintain public order and prevent illegal road blockages, with the Interior Ministry clearly warning that such actions could result in criminal charges carrying up to four years in prison. The role of Western interference must also be probed.
Pro-establishment narrative
The crackdown demonstrates a pattern of democratic backsliding and state-sponsored violence, with authorities systematically targeting opposition figures, peaceful protesters, and journalists while moving the country away from its European path and closer to Russia.
