The rat is fleeing 🐀

✏️Here’s a couple of reasons why these protests are happening for those of you dear readers who are not in the loop:

🕓EU Accession Delays / Suspension
Georgia has long sought to join the European Union, and many citizens see this as a path toward stronger democracy, better governance, and distancing from Russian influence. Recent decisions by the ruling party to pause negotiations or delay parts of the accession process have angered many who believe Georgia is sliding away from the West.

👀”Foreign Agents” / “Foreign Influence” Laws
One of the biggest catalysts for protest was a law or proposed laws that would require NGOs, media organizations, and other groups receiving a certain amount of funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents” or “organisations under foreign influence.” Critics argue this mirrors similar legislation in Russia and is a way to stigmatize, control, or suppress dissent, civil society, and independent media.

🤢Allegations of Authoritarianism and Erosion of Democratic Institutions
Protesters accuse the ruling party, Georgian Dream, of undermining democratic norms. Among the accusations are:
• Election irregularities (especially surrounding the October 2024 parliamentary election) — many believe the process was manipulated in favor of Georgian Dream.
• Restricting media freedom, exerting control over civil society, and introducing laws that weaken checks and balances.
• Crackdowns on protestors — use of water cannons, tear gas, police force, fines and arrests.

🤐Geopolitical Orientation — Russia vs the West
Many Georgians fear that the government is tilting too much toward Russia (or at least allowing Russian influence to grow), rather than pushing for integration with Europe and alignment with Western norms. This is especially sensitive given Georgia’s history of conflict with Russia (e.g. the breakaway regions, past war in 2008).

📢Demand for New / Fairer Elections
Because of widespread belief that the most recent elections were neither free nor fair, protestors are demanding fresh parliamentary elections under more transparent and credible conditions. Opposition parties have, in many cases, boycotted parliamentary sessions, saying the current government lacks legitimacy.

‼️🇨🇿 ⚠️
Moldovans are smarter than Czechs.

Unless a miracle coalition happens, democracy and reason are lost.

🇬🇪 Georgian opposition leaders Irakli Nadiradze and Murtaz Zodelava were arrested by the regime tonight

🇬🇪 Paata Burchuladze, Paata Manjgaladze and Lasha Beridze have also been arrested

🎶 Burchuladze was a former opera singer before becoming opposition politician and activist and is the main leader of the protest

✍️ Manjgaladze is a career politician and seemingly while not the main leader behind much of the protest strategy

🇦🇫 Beridze is quite interesting as he was a former Colonel and leader of the Georgian Troop contingent in Afghanistan

🥸 Nadiradze and Zodelava are both politicans for United National Movement

🤡 The Georgian government is saying this was an attempted coup and that they will punish the people behind it harshly