The Georgian Opposition in 2025
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For millions of Georgians, January 2025 has started much like how 2024 ended. For several months, the Georgian opposition and Georgian citizens have protested the outcome of the stolen 2024 parliamentary elections. They demanded a new election take place under international supervision, and they have called for a fair and free process.

But Georgian Dream, the ruling political party in Georgian Parliament, has ignored these pleas. Instead, they have pressed forward with their agenda. Following the fabricated parliamentary election, which Georgian Dream falsely claims it won, the Georgian government proceeded to elect its next president. The Georgian College of Electors voted for Georgian lawmaker Mikheil Kavelashvili, a pro-Russian and anti-Western candidate, and he was elected as the next president of Georgia. Kavelashvili was then inaugurated at the end of December 2024. This sparked further outrage across Georgia.

To Georgian citizens and the opposition, the election of Kavelashvili was illegitimate as the parliamentary elections were stolen. They have argued that the new president was elected only because Georgian Dream illegally maintained its majority within parliament. Had the elections been free and fair, the opposition believes it would have defeated Georgian Dream and that a new government would have been formed in the Georgian Parliament. Furthermore, Georgian citizens and the opposition argue that anti-Russian and pro-Western Salome Zourabichvili remains as Georgia’s president given the illegitimate process that occurred.

Due to this controversy, Zourabichvili has refused to step down as the president of Georgia. In a statement made in December 2024, the Georgian president said that Georgia must have new parliamentary elections.

In other words, these are trying times in the Georgian political system. Zourabichvili, the Georgian opposition, and most Georgian citizens have refused to acknowledge the results of the October 2024 parliamentary elections. They have also called for stronger relations and closer ties with Western institutions. They would like to reform Georgia’s government so that it meets European standards, and they are hopeful that Georgia will one day become a member of the European Union.

But Georgian Dream does not share similar opinions about Western integration. Political leaders from Georgian Dream have ignored the guidance offered by the European Union to reform the government. Georgian Dream recently suspended Geogia’s EU accession process, and the party is refusing to speak with opposition member. These events suggest that the leaders and members of Georgian Dream are not interested in reforming their country and creating better socioeconomic opportunities in Georgia. Instead, the decision to put EU accession on hold implies that Georgian Dream is more interested in staying in power rather than improving the lifestyle of Georgian citizens.

Georgian Dream’s politics are also puzzling. While the West has invited Georgia to establish stronger relationships through politics and trade, the ruling party in Georgia has opted to strengthen ties with Russia, a country that has illegally occupied Georgian territory since 2008. For example, Georgian Dream has opened commercial flights from Georgia to Russia. The two countries also continue to conduct trade.

Aside from strengthening relations with Russia, Georgian Dream has also cracked down on the opposition movement within Georgia. For example, the ruling political party has increased surveillance methods across the country. According to Eurasianet, the ruling party in Georgia pushed through legislation that would allow it to target political opponents. Security forces have also detained peaceful Georgian citizens who have protested the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections.

Given these developments, the Georgian diaspora has begun to intervene. Georgians throughout the United States and the European Union have met with Western leaders to discuss Georgian politics. These engagements by the diaspora have been successful, and they have resulted in actions being taken by the West. For example, the United States has sanctioned the founder of Georgian Dream. Similarly, the United Kingdom has sanctioned Georgian officials who were responsible for the Georgian government’s brutal crackdown on the opposition. (The European Union, however, has not sanctioned Georgian Dream officials due to vetoes by EU member states Hungary and Slovakia.)

In short, the situation in Georgia is dire. If further actions are not taken against Georgian Dream, then further disruption and damage may be caused to the country. Therefore, the West should pressure the ruling party in Georgia. Western leaders must force Georgian Dream to hold new parliamentary elections with international election observers and peacekeepers. In addition, the West should sanction parliamentary members from Georgian Dream. This pressure will force Georgian Dream to alter its methods. Otherwise, if Georgian Dream’s antics are not addressed, then the ruling party in Georgia will continue its authoritarian methods. This would then put Georgian democracy and the future of Georgia in jeopardy.

It is time for the West to help the Georgian opposition and Georgian citizens. After all, the West prides itself on promoting Western democracy and values.

Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.