Georgian PM reaffirms right to protest amid opposition rallies

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that the government will not obstruct the ongoing opposition protests in Tbilisi, despite the opposition's lack of widespread public support.

Speaking to reporters, Kobakhidze acknowledged that while daily rallies continue to take place, with participation reaching up to a thousand people, they represent the interests of opposition parties and non-governmental organizations rather than the general population, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

He further emphasized that the authorities respect the democratic right of citizens to protest.

"These rallies, which gather a thousand people each day, are primarily supported by opposition groups, not the broader public," Kobakhidze remarked, adding that the rallies are monitored through drone surveillance. Despite the opposition's vocal demands for new parliamentary elections, he affirmed that the government would not interfere with their right to express their views.

"However," he continued, "a thousand people will not outweigh the decision of 1.2 million people who have entrusted the Georgian Dream party with the mandate to govern for the next four years."

His comments come amid ongoing protests, as opposition supporters demand fresh parliamentary elections in the country.

In a related development, tensions escalated during a separate protest rally on December 29, where demonstrators gathered outside the Georgian Parliament. The protest, which coincided with the inauguration of Georgia's sixth president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, saw several arrests.

The protests with participants holding red cards began on Rustaveli Avenue at 11 a.m. As the demonstration unfolded, six individuals were detained by police after refusing to comply with orders to stay on the pavement and avoid blocking traffic. According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, the detainees were later released after receiving fines for their actions.

Mikheil Kavelashvili was formally inaugurated as president of Georgia on December 29, cementing the ruling party’s grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia.

Outgoing Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said that she would vacate her residence at the Orbeliani Palace in Tbilisi, but insisted she was still the legitimate office holder.

“I will come out of here, come out to you and be with you. This presidential residence was a symbol as long as there was a president here who was legitimate. I bring legitimacy with me,” Zourabichvili told a crowd of supporters outside the palace.

She called Kavelashvili’s inauguration a “parody.”

Kavelashvili, 53, who was the only candidate on the ballot, easily won the vote earlier in December given the Georgian Dream party’s control of a 300-seat electoral college that replaced direct presidential elections in 2017. It is made up of members of Parliament, municipal councils and regional legislatures.

By Vafa Guliyeva