The week of January 11-15, 2025, witnessed a sharp escalation of political turmoil in Georgia, marked by mass protests, targeted assaults on opposition figures, arrests of journalists and activists, and a nationwide strike. These events signal a deepening crisis and raise serious concerns about the state of democracy and media freedom in the country. This article provides a concise overview of the key developments and their potential implications.
The immediate trigger for this week’s unrest was the arrest of Mzia Amaglobeli, a prominent journalist and founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. Initially detained on January 11 for distributing stickers promoting a general strike, Amaglobeli was subsequently rearrested and charged with assaulting a police officer—allegations widely perceived as politically motivated. The Batumi City Court’s decision on January 14 to remand her in custody ignited public outrage, fueling protests that quickly spread from Batumi to other major cities, including Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, and Telavi.
These protests, which had already been ongoing for 49 days, intensified significantly. Demonstrators reiterated their core demands: the release of all detained activists and the holding of new elections. On January 15, the protest movement reached a critical juncture with a nationwide general strike organized via social media. This strike, involving hundreds of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), served as a powerful demonstration of widespread public dissatisfaction with the government and elevated the protests to a new level of national significance.
Adding to the escalating tensions, on the night of January 15, two prominent figures were violently attacked in Batumi. Giorgi Gakharia, former Prime Minister and now an opposition leader with the For Georgia party, was hospitalized with a broken nose and concussion. Zviad Koridze, a journalist and member of Transparency International-Georgia, also suffered an eye injury. Transparency International condemned these attacks as deliberate acts of retaliation by the ruling party against the civil sector, raising serious concerns about political violence and the safety of opposition figures.
The international community responded promptly to the unfolding crisis. The EU Delegation to Georgia condemned the arrests and assaults, calling for fair trials and respect for freedom of expression. Anitta Hipper, the EU’s Lead Spokesperson for Foreign and Security Policy, specifically criticized the repression of peaceful protests and demanded accountability for officials involved in unlawful actions. Michael Roth, Chair of the German Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee, who was in Georgia at the time, echoed these concerns and called for a thorough investigation into the attacks. While information on specific US engagement is limited in the provided material, the growing international attention signals increasing pressure on the Georgian government to uphold democratic principles and human rights. This international scrutiny could lead to further diplomatic actions, such as sanctions or conditional aid, depending on how the situation develops.
These events mark a critical turning point for Georgia. The combination of sustained public mobilization, targeted violence against opposition figures and journalists, and increasing international condemnation creates a highly volatile and precarious situation. The suppression of dissent and the use of force risk further destabilizing the country and raise urgent questions about Georgia’s commitment to democratic norms and its aspirations for closer ties with the European Union. How the Georgian government responds to these challenges will be crucial in determining the country’s future political trajectory.