Georgia: Two Opposition Leaders Arrested During Protest · Global Voices

Police arrested her today (02/02/2025) two opposition leaders, one of whom was then released on bail, during a new protest against her . The government in Georgia is accused by its opponents of pro-Russian authoritarian derogation and that it is removing this Caucasus country from an approach with the European Union. CORVERSE EU head of diplomacy Kaya Kalas criticised Georgian authorities through X, stating that “the brutal repression of peaceful demonstrators, journalists and politicians tonight in Tbilisi is unacceptable.” This former Soviet democracy has been shocked for three months by daily demonstrations against the ruling Georgian Dream party. The crisis broke out at the end of October when this party announced its victory in the parliamentary elections, for which the opposition denounces that it was a product of fraud. It deteriorated next month, when this party suspended the EU accession process, a decision considered treason by a part of the country, mainly pro-Western youth. CORVERSE This latter considers that the government prefers to approach neighbouring Russia and wants to imitate Russian President Vladimir Putin’s methods. Today the class forces arrested Nika Melia of the liberal pro-European party Akhali (Neo) and Giggy Ugulava, former mayor of Tbilisi. They participated along with thousands of protesters in an attempt to block a highway at the northern entrance of the capital. Melia’s lawyer said his client, who was “conceived for administrative infringement”, was released on bail shortly after midnight. Melia told reporters that a high-ranking police officer kicked him while at the police station. Melia and Ugulava have already spent years in prison over Georgian Dream government, based on accusations of political motives, according to non-governmental human rights organisations. Independent television station Pirveli broadcast images showing police casting brutally arrested protesters. “All this police violence shows exactly that the government is afraid,” says a 22-year-old protester, Cote Baramia. “Georgians will not succumb, our democracy is in danger”.