Opposition leader Nika Melia and former mayor Gigi Ugulava arrested during a rally in Tbilisi.
Published On 3 Feb 2025
Police have cracked down as pro-democracy protests sprang back to life in Georgia.
Several antigovernment protesters, including two opposition leaders, were arrested late on Sunday during a large demonstration against the governing party in the capital Tbilisi. The rally marked a revival of mass protests seen late last year.
Georgians have been protesting daily against the ruling Georgia Dream Party since November, although events had been quieter since the turn of the year. Opposition groups claim that voter fraud helped the governing party to maintain power at elections in October 2024.
They also object to laws they view as authoritarian and claim that Georgian Dream is trying to pull the country back towards Russia, having paused efforts to join the European Union.
The protests returned with renewed momentum on Sunday night as thousands gathered on the northern edge of Tbilisi, blocking a road that leads out of the city.
Nika Melia, the leader of the liberal pro-European Akhali party, and former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, a prominent opposition figure, were arrested during the protest.
According to Melia’s lawyer, the opposition leader was “arrested on an administrative offence charge” and released shortly after midnight after signing a promise to appear in court.
The independent TV Pirveli news station aired footage of police brutally beating detained protesters.
Under Ivanishvili’s direct orders, regime escalated violence once again, bringing back full-scale mass repressions alongside targeted retributions, deploying masked forces to brutally punish peaceful protesters – youth, women, and journalists.#GeorgiaProtests #terrorinGeorgia pic.twitter.com/X65Fti6bpl
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) February 3, 2025
Former prime minister and opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia accused Georgian Dream founde
