Georgia, protests continue

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Anti-government protests continue unabated in the Georgian capital. They were sparked, after October's controversial elections, by statements by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, according to whom the government intended to suspend EU accession negotiations. Although the numbers of the demonstrations are controversial, participation is transversal: from left to right, from intellectuals to workers. Photos and texts by Onnik James Krikorian

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Last weekend, municipal workers started installing Tbilisi’s New Year or Christmas Tree outside the parliament building. Though Georgians don’t celebrate Christmas until 7 January, it serves the same purpose for the New Year too. The opposition criticised the move, as anti-government protests show no sign of abating.
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The protests started at the end of November, following remarks by Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, that the government would suspend EU membership negotiations. The opposition had already alleged widespread electoral fraud in the 26 October parliamentary elections.
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Later that evening, following the installation of the tree, protesters affixed photographs of those injured or detained in the protests now approaching their second week.
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The main grievance of those participating in the protests is that they believe Georgia is ruled by one man – Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. Once an ally of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream came to power in parliamentary elections held in 2012. The opposition accuses him of being pro-Russia in a country that seeks EU membership. Others, however, argue that Georgian Dream has been more cautious since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Though the EU has expressed its displeasure with Georgian Dream for the conduct of the October vote and Kobakhidze’s recent statement, some protesters believe it should and could do more – particularly, sanctions. The European Parliament has already refused to recognise the outcome of the recent elections.
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Though numbers are disputed for the size of the demonstrations, they include different groups in society – from the left to right wingers and from professors to manual labourers. Here two young Georgian punks hold up the flag of the first Georgian republic from 1918. They say it represents a dark history under Soviet rule and a bright future with the EU.
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Further grievances relate to the largely ceremonial presidency. On 14 December the position will be decided by electoral college attached to the Georgian Dream majority parliament. Before, it had been by popular vote. Current President Salome Zourabichvili, a French-born seasoned diplomat, is expected to be replaced by Mikheil Kavelashvili, an MP for the ruling party, with a background as a professional footballer. Here students mock Kavelashvili by organising a collection of money so he can finally obtain an educational diploma.
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Protesters shine messages on to the Georgian Parliament. They range from updates to instructions to simply making some noise.
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The messages are shone from opposite the parliament building by a simple projector linked to a mobile phone for inputting messages.
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A woman lights candles for the mother of one protester, who crashed while driving to the demonstration. The mother lost control when she reportedly saw police attempting to arrest her son.
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One Georgian emigre, born in the country but since returned, makes the victory sign in front of a row of police. Protesters believe that their demonstrations will be successful and the government will be forced by the international community to hold fresh elections with international oversight.
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An 11th grade pupil at the demonstrations. Because of safety concerns, her mother had instructed her not to attend the protests, but she sneaked out to do so anyway. Like others at the demonstration, she believes the Georgian Dream government is taking away her “European future”.
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Another school girl, accompanied by her mother, shines a laser into the night sky. The use of laser pointers at demonstrations could soon be illegal. Some protesters shine them directly into the eyes of police. Fireworks too may soon be banned as they are fired at policemen as well.
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Masks at demonstrations will also be outlawed. Since the demonstrations began, it is suspected that right-wing football hooligans have taken their place alongside protesters to engage in fights with police. The government is also believed to use informal groups of unidentifiable masked men to arrest and sometimes beat protesters and media on the streets late at night.
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For the protesters, however, masks are believed essential to lessen the effect of tear gas regularly used by riot police in dispersals and also to conceal their identity. They say that participants are subject to arrest after being identified in photographs and footage shot by media at the demonstrations.