Georgia protests: What’s behind them and what’s next?

Police form a shield wall and use a water hose in central Tbilisi on December 2, 2024, while securing the parliament building from protesters during the fifth straight night of demonstrations against the government's postponement of EU accession talks until 2028 [Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP]

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have clashed with riot police in Georgia over the past five nights in protests against the governing Georgian Dream party’s decision to suspend talks aimed at joining the European Union until 2028. 

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the populist Dream Party, announced the decision after the European Parliament rejected the results of Georgia’s October 26 parliamentary elections. He accused the European Parliament and “some European leaders” of “blackmail”.