Georgians rally for EU integration ahead of critical election
On Sunday in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, thousands of people participated in a march under the slogan "Georgia chooses the European Union." The country’s pro-Western president, Salome Zourabishvili, also took part in the demonstration. Key parliamentary elections related to this issue will be held in Georgia next Saturday.
Supporters of the country's pro-European direction gathered at five locations around the capital and marched to Freedom Square in the city centre, where a massive demonstration took place, reports Echo of the Caucasus (the Georgian branch of Radio Liberty) and the apsny.ge service.
The demonstration began with the singing of the anthems of Georgia and the EU.
The president of Georgia took to the streets and appealed to the demonstrators
The event, organized by non-governmental organizations, was supported by President Zourabishvili and the opposition. On Saturday, the president announced she would participate in the demonstration and urged Georgians to vote on October 26, endorsing one of the opposition blocs.
She also called on citizens not to fear intimidation or threats.
Do not fear anything; we are on the right path, and we will achieve our goal through peaceful elections – she declared.
Most of Georgia's residents support integration with the European Union and oppose closer ties with Russia; the opposition and the president are also pro-Western. In December 2023, the country obtained candidate status for the EU.
The ruling party Georgian Dream, led by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili since 2012, is accused of steering Georgia toward Russia, dismantling democratic institutions, and weakening the country's pro-Western stance. The group faces criticism from the West, including the adoption of the so-called foreign agents law.
The opposition and civil society fear that election results may be manipulated, leading to mass demonstrations that could be suppressed by the police.
