Georgia has a long history of resistance against Russian and Soviet colonialism. Following the blatantly rigged parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024, a heavy pall of despair hung over the country. In Tbilisi, a sense of exhaustion permeated the air.
Though initial protests were peaceful, everything changed on November 28. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia's E.U. integration talks would be postponed until 2028—a shocking decision in a country where public support for joining the bloc hovers around 80 per cent. This announcement dashed hopes for a European future and left the nation vulnerable to increasing Russian influence.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically. Despair gave way to rage, and a wave of major protests erupted. Tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets, marching resolutely to defend their freedom and their aspirations for a European identity.