Georgia commemorates one year of protests following stalled EU talks and increased crackdown.

TBILISI, Georgia Large crowds filled the streets of the Georgian capital on Friday, marking one full year of continuous demonstrations against the governments decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union.

Thousands of people carrying drums, whistles, banners and national flags moved along Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisis main boulevard. The uninterrupted protest movement began on November 28, 2024, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared that Georgia would halt its EU accession talks.

The announcement triggered immediate mass rallies outside Parliament and in cities across the country. Although participation has declined over the months, demonstrators have continued to gather every day.

Protester Sopo Batilashvili accused the authorities of stripping citizens of the future our ancestors fought for and that once made us proud.

The ruling Georgian Dream party has sought to weaken the movement by imposing stricter regulations on public gatherings and passing a series of laws targeting civil society groups, NGOs and independent media outlets. Critics argue that several of these measures resemble legislation used in Russia to suppress dissent.

Under the new rules, wearing masks at rallies, blocking streets or putting up temporary structures can now result in up to 15 days of administrative detention for participants and 20 days for organizers. Fines have also risen sharply: first-time offenders now face a penalty of 5,000 Georgian lari ($1,850), a tenfold increase from the previous 500 lari. Repeat violations carry criminal charges, and hundreds have already been detained.

Among those arrested is Rusiko Kobakhidze, a mother of nine and researcher with the Soviet Past Research Laboratory, who has protested daily outside Parliament. She was detained twice in November for blocking a road and spent a total of five days in custody.

I want my children and grandchildren to grow up in a country where they can speak freely, wont face injustice and can trust the legal system, she told The Associated Press.

Authorities have also increased pressure on opposition groups. Georgian Dream has appealed to the Constitutional Court to outlaw the countrys three main opposition parties the United National Movement, Akhali/Coalition for Change and Lelo. Several opposition figures are imprisoned, living abroad or facing charges that critics say are politically driven.

Tina Bokuchava, leader of the United National Movement, said the ruling party founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili who amassed his wealth in Russia is carrying out every strategic objective Vladimir Putin has pursued regarding Georgia.

Despite the halted talks, Georgian Dream officials maintain that the countrys commitment to a European future remains intact. Our foreign policy is integration with the EU and NATO. Nothing has been paused or altered in that direction, said ruling party lawmaker Mariam Lashkhi, adding that international pressure should not dictate Georgias domestic development policies.

An EU enlargement report released on November 4 highlighted democratic regression in Georgia and stated that the governments repressive actions are fundamentally incompatible with EU democratic values.