Violent protests in Georgia highlight the battle over the country’s future. Here’s why it’s important.

Live television coverage showed police in the former Soviet republic of Georgia beating and arresting an opposition leader last week during a raid on his party’s offices. These scenes took place on the tenth day of violent clashes in the capital, Tbilisi, between police and demonstrators angry at the Georgian Prime Minister’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.

The unrest that broke out two weeks ago, after months of public frustration over Georgia’s future, caused a large number of casualties and more than 400 arrests.

More than 100 people have been taken to hospital with injuries sustained during clashes with riot police, but protesters continue to take to the streets of Tbilisi in their thousands every night.

As the protests continue, there is concern that the political crisis could escalate into widespread violence, and there is also concern that a key US partner in far eastern Europe could shift its political leanings away from the democratic West and towards Moscow – whether it will or not. Its people approve of this step. Here’s a look at what led to the unrest, and why the political crisis in the country that straddles Europe and Asia matters to the wider world.

What led to the protests in Georgia?

The protests have been largely driven by what many Georgians see as the increasingly authoritarian tendencies of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The party has been in power since 2012, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, and initially promised democratic reforms and closer ties with Europe and the West, including the European Union.

Critics claim that the party has shifted over time towards Russia, undermining the aspirations of many Georgians to see their country join the European Union.

The government’s decision to freeze EU accession talks and, before that, adopt an agreement The controversial “foreign agents” bill Similar to the legislation in Russia, both were seen as clear evidence of this eastward shift by Georgia’s ruling party. There was a precedent Protests against the new law While it is going through the approval process, many fear it will stifle civil society and media freedom in the country.

The situation deteriorated in November, following allegations of voter suppression and fraud in parliamentary elections. The post-election protests, which increased in size and intensity, were fueled by opposition allegations that the government was manipulating the democratic process.

president Salome Zurabishvili is an independent politicianHe was among the harshest critics of the ruling Georgian Dream party over alleged election interference, calling the recent vote “total fraud.” According to Reuters news agency, two international polling groups from the United States agreed with this assessment, describing the results as statistically impossible.

On December 3, the country’s Constitutional Court rejected Zurabishvili’s call to annul the results of the parliamentary elections, exacerbating tension in the streets. On the ninth day of protests, police action was required Serious human rights violations In her article on X.

Georgia’s relationship with Russia

The protests in Georgia have highlighted the country’s complex and tense relationship with its much larger neighbor to the north, Russia.

Russia It occupied Georgia in 2008 And he continues to do so occupation Regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia strongly opposes Georgia’s ambitions to join the European Union and the US-led NATO military alliance, and has used its economic and political influence to try to prevent Georgia from allying with Western institutions.

In an interview with 60 Minutes earlier this year President Zurabishvili described Russia’s subtle but influential attempt to influence Georgian politics as part of a “hybrid war” waged by Moscow against the West.

She said Russian tactics include spreading disinformation, exerting economic pressure, and manipulating domestic politics to prevent Georgia from fully integrating with its European neighbors to the west.

Critics, including the president, highlight the recent adoption of the Foreign Agents Law, which requires all nonprofits and media outlets that receive foreign funding to register as “foreign agents” in Georgia, as an example of the ruling party dragging the country closer to the Russian authoritarian model.

Similar laws in Russia, which have been enacted since Vladimir Putin ordered a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, have been used to curb dissent and limit political freedom.

Critics say the law represents a major setback to democratic reforms that began when Georgia gained independence from the former Soviet Union, and has always been seen as a major obstacle to EU membership.

Gay rights in Georgia have also been a controversial issue, with the ruling party and influential religious groups often opposing reforms. Anti-gay discrimination remains widespread, and Pride marches regularly face violent counter-protests.

The social divide is another point of tension, as many pro-European activists see protecting minority rights as an essential part of Georgia’s future in the European Union.

Why is Georgia’s political crisis important to the United States?

The political turmoil in Georgia has important implications for both the European Union and NATO, with Western capitals concerned that a move toward Russia and its authoritarian style could embolden Moscow as it attempts to curb Western influence across the continent.

Georgia has been a very important partner for the United States in the South Caucasus region, which straddles the border between Eastern Europe and Asia. If the Georgian government continues to shift its bias towards Russia, this could undermine US influence.

“The political crisis in Georgia represents a major challenge for the West,” Natia Siscoria, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told CBS News. “Georgia has remained one of the most pro-Western countries in the region, with an overwhelming majority of the population supporting the country’s integration into the European Union and NATO.”

Ciscoria said the lack of any significant international response to the unrest was likely to deepen and prolong the crisis.

US Department of State And suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia at the end of November, citing the country’s shift away from European integration.

“The Georgian people overwhelmingly support integration with Europe,” the State Department said when it suspended the partnership, adding condemnation of “the excessive use of force by police against Georgians seeking to exercise their rights of assembly and expression, including their freedom to peacefully express themselves.” We call on all parties to ensure that the protests remain peaceful.”

Siscoria said that all eyes in Georgia were on the incoming Trump administration, and many were wondering how it would deal with the political turmoil in the country given Trump’s previous statements praising President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking to 60 Minutes in June, President Zurabishvili expressed frustration at what she saw as lackluster US support for peaceful protests against political forces sympathetic to Russia in her country.

“I think there needs to be more public recognition,” she said.

This story has been updated to reflect that it was the prime minister, not the president, who halted talks on Georgia’s EU accession.