Summary

Protests erupted in Georgia after the government suspended EU membership talks, sparking two nights of clashes with police in Tbilisi and Batumi.

Demonstrators accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party, linked to Russia, of election rigging and undermining democracy.

President Salome Zourabichvili joined protests, condemning police violence and the government’s stance. The EU had conditioned Georgia’s candidacy on reforms but suspended the process over anti-democratic laws.

Georgian PM Kobakhidze criticized EU “blackmail” and rejected grants until 2028, fueling accusations of authoritarianism and pro-Moscow policies. Tensions highlight Georgia’s volatile political trajectory.