Anti-government protests intensify in Tbilisi, major Georgian cities

Another anti-government rally has been held in Tbilisi and major cities across Georgia.

Participants demanded new parliamentary elections, Caliber.Az reports, citing Mtavari Arkhi TV company.

"On the 38th day of the rally, participants gathered in the centre of Kutaisi, in Batumi in front of the Constitutional Court building, in Zugdidi, and in Tbilisi in front of the parliament building," the report says.

Moreover, the Georgian Interior Ministry noted that 25 rally participants were deported.

These individuals took part in protests held in November and December. Before being expelled, they had been sentenced to administrative penalties.

In the past two months, 91 foreigners have been deported from the country, including Russian citizens. Some individuals left the country voluntarily.

According to the Interior Ministry, 430 foreigners were deported from Georgia in 2024, marking a 126 per cent increase compared to the previous year. 

Protests in Georgia began in October 2024, following the victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the parliamentary elections. The protests were sparked by the government's decision to postpone negotiations on Georgia's EU membership until 2028.

By Naila Huseynova