Why mass protests are brewing in Georgia and how Russia may help the authorities
Less than a week remains until 4 October – the day of local self-government elections in Georgia.
Most opposition parties have refused to take part in them. Instead, the opposition declared this day the beginning of the "liberation of the Georgian people from the pro-Russian regime" and announced the start of large-scale protests in the capital.
Read more about how the Georgian regime plans to resist the opposition is described in the article by Amiran Khevtsuriani of the Georgian-Ukrainian Center (in Tbilisi) and Yurii Panchenko, European Pravda's editor: Georgian Dream calls on Russia for help: how Tbilisi prepares for protests after the elections.
Although the ruling party Georgian Dream controls the voting process, its representatives are clearly nervous. Their statements betray anxiety. These are not the words of politicians confident in public support.
In particular, the party has sharply increased pressure on accredited diplomatic missions in Georgia.
This time, the targets of their attacks were the ambassadors of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The latter two were even summoned to Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For example, German Ambassador Peter Fischer was reminded that, according to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, "a diplomatic mission officer must not interfere in the internal affairs of the host state."
By such "interference," the authorities meant the presence of Western diplomats at court hearings of activists and opposition members.
Notably, these MFA attacks on European diplomats (especially the German ambassador) were echoed by leading figures of Georgian Dream.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated that calling Peter Fischer an ambassador "might be somewhat offensive to representatives and embassies of other countries."
Such rudeness from Georgian Dream may have a very simple explanation.
The EU has openly admitted it is seriously considering revoking Georgia’s visa-free regime – a move that would be a major blow to the authorities.
But it seems the Georgian regime has already resigned itself to this outcome and is prepared to provoke in any way necessary to stay in power.
On the eve of the elections, from 27 September to 3 October, Tbilisi is hosting the World Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championship, with over a thousand athletes participating.
According to well-known Georgian journalist and blogger Tengo Gogotishvili, fighters from the Russian special police unit "Akhmat", as well as "athletes" from Dagestan and North Ossetia, were expected to arrive in Tbilisi.
"They were told that Georgian athletes must be beaten in the ring, and pro-Western protesters must be beaten at rallies," Gogotishvili was told by one Chechen security officer.
The source clarified that this scheme is directly overseen by Chechnya’s Deputy Prime Minister and head of the security bloc, Abuzayed Vismuradov (nicknamed ‘Patriot’).
He also said that in December 2024, during protests sparked by the government’s abandonment of the pro-European course, Ossetian athletes allegedly took part in dispersing anti-government rallies in Tbilisi.
These claims are confirmed by the organisation "Caucasian Legion," which unites combatants fighting on Ukraine’s side.
All this is far from the full list of provocations that Georgian Dream is preparing for the country.
For example, steps have already been taken to ban the largest opposition party, United National Movement, whose honorary chairman is former president and political prisoner Mikheil Saakashvili.
This is a clear signal to all other political forces: Georgian Dream is ready to do anything to preserve power.