Georgia Police Raid Opposition Party Offices, Arrest Leader Amid Protests

Police in Georgia carried out raids on opposition party offices and arrested its leader as ongoing mass protests have continued in the Eastern European country.

Police Raids

The Coalition for Change, an opposition party, reported Wednesday that police had raided its offices and arrested its leader, Nika Gvaramia. The party released video footage showing multiple officers forcibly escorting Gvaramia into a car.

Local media in Georgia reported that police carried out additional raids targeting the offices of several opposition groups and non-governmental organizations.

Ongoing Protests

Over the past six nights, riot police in Georgia's capital have clashed with demonstrators, deploying water cannons and tear gas to break up protests. Protesters responded by launching fireworks at officers and erecting barricades along the city's central boulevard. Since Thursday, authorities have detained more than 300 people, while over 100 have required medical treatment for injuries.

The ruling Georgian Dream party maintained its grip on parliament following the contentious October 26 election, which many viewed as a critical test of Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union. Opposition leaders, along with the country's pro-Western president, have accused the governing party of election fraud allegedly aided by Russia and have since boycotted parliamentary sessions.

The disputed election protests intensified after the Georgian Dream party announced Thursday it would pause negotiations over the country's EU accession, fueling widespread opposition anger.

A protester is seen in Tbilisi, Georgia, on December 4, 2024, amid demonstrations against the country's plans to end negotiations to join the European Union. On Wednesday, local media reported that Georgian police executed raids... AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze

President Salome Zourabichvili has rejected the official results of Georgia's parliamentary election, filing a challenge with the Constitutional Court, which dismissed her appeal on Tuesday. Despite holding a largely ceremonial position, Zourabichvili has vowed to remain in office beyond the end of her six-year term later this month, positioning herself as a leader in the opposition's push for a new parliamentary vote.

The European Union granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 contingent on meeting specific recommendations. However, in June, the EU paused Georgia's accession process and reduced financial support following the passage of a controversial "foreign influence" law. Widely criticized as an attack on democratic freedoms, the law mandates organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as agents of "foreign influence," mirroring a Russian law often used to suppress government critics.

The Georgian government's decision to suspend EU accession talks came just hours after the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the country's October election as neither free nor fair.

Earlier this week, the EU said it has "serious concerns about the continuous democratic backsliding of the country."

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party announced Tuesday that his government is prepared to resume EU accession talks if the European Union halts what he described as "blackmail."

"I want to remind European bureaucrats and politicians, including those who are artificially hindering our country's European integration, to bring negotiations to the table, and we will sign immediately, on the same day, at that very moment," Kobakhidze said.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.