Violent protests in Georgia highlight a battle over the country's future. Here's why it's important.

Live television coverage showed police in the former Soviet republic of Georgia beating and arresting an opposition leader last week during a raid on his party offices. The scenes unfolded on the 10th day of violent clashes in the capital Tbilisi between police and protesters angry over the Georgian president's decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.

The unrest that erupted two weeks ago, after months of public frustration over the future of Georgia, has caused serious casualties and seen more than 400 people arrested.

More than 100 people were hospitalized with injuries received during clashes with riot police, but the protesters continue to take their thousands to the streets of Tbilisi every night.

As the protests continue, there is concern that the political crisis could escalate into wider violence, and there is also concern that the US's main partner on the edge of south-east Europe could his political movements to move away from the democratic West and towards Moscow – whether it is or not. his people agree with the move. Below is a look at what caused the unrest, and why the political crisis in the country that straddles Europe and Asia is important to the wider world.

What caused the protests in Georgia?

The protests have been largely driven by what many Georgians see as the increasingly authoritarian tendencies of the Georgian Dream party. In power since 2012, the ruling party led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili promised democratic reforms and closer ties with Europe and the West, including the EU.

Critics argue that, over time, the party has moved towards Russia, undermining the desire of many Georgians to see their country join the EU.

The government's decision to freeze accession negotiations with the EU, and before that, to adopt a controversial “foreign agents” bill. like legislation in Russia, they were both seen as clear evidence of that shift to the east by Georgia's ruling party. It was before complaints about the new law as it went through the approval process, with many fearing that it will hinder civil society and press freedom in the country.

The situation worsened in November following allegations of voter suppression and electoral fraud in parliamentary elections. The post-election protests, which grew in size and intensity, were fueled by claims that the government was manipulating the democratic process.

President Salome Zurabishvili, independent politicianhas been among the ruling Georgian Dream party's most vocal critics of the election ban, calling the recent vote a “total fraud”. According to the Reuters news agency, two international polling groups from the US agreed with that assessment, saying that the results are statistically impossible.

On December 3, the country's Constitutional Court rejected Zurabishvili's call to suspend the parliamentary election results, exacerbating the tension in the streets. On the ninth day of the protests she called for police action gross violations of human rights in her post on X.

Relations between Georgia and Russia

The protests in Georgia have highlighted the country's complicated, fraught relationship with its much larger neighbor to the north, Russia.

Russia he invaded Georgia in 2008 and it continues property regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia strongly opposes Georgia's bid to join the EU and the US-led NATO military alliance, and has leveraged its economic and political influence to try to prevent the country from joining -alignment with Western institutions.

In an interview with 60 Minutes earlier this year President Zurabishvili called Russia's subtle but effective bid to influence Georgian politics as part of a “hybrid war” that Moscow is waging against the West.

She said Russia's tactics included spreading disinformation, economic pressure and manipulating internal politics to prevent Georgia from fully integrating with its European neighbors to the west.

Critics, including the president, highlight the recent adoption of the foreign agents law, which requires all non-profit organizations and media outlets that receive foreign funding to register as “foreign representatives” in Georgia, as an example of the ruling party dragging the country. closer to the Russian authoritarian model.

Similar laws in Russia, enacted since Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, have been used to stifle dissent and limit political freedom.

Critics argue that the law represents a major obstacle to democratic reforms that were set in motion when Georgia gained its independence from the former Soviet Union, and has always been seen as a major obstacle to EU membership.

LGBTQ rights in Georgia have also been a contentious issue, with the ruling party and influential religious groups often opposed to reforms. Discrimination against LGBTQ people remains widespread, and pride marches are regularly met with violent protests.

The social divide is another source of tension, as many pro-European activists see the protection of minority rights as an essential part of Georgia's future in the EU.

Why is Georgia's political crisis important to the US?

Georgia's political turmoil has significant implications for the European Union and NATO, with Western capitals concerned that a move towards Russia and its authoritarian style could strengthen Moscow as it seeks to curb Western influence over across the continent.

Georgia has been a vital partner for the US in the South Caucasus region, which straddles the border between Eastern Europe and Asia. If the government of Georgia continues to move into Russia, that could weaken US influence.

“Georgia's political crisis is a major challenge for the West,” Natia Seskuria, a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told CBS News. “Georgia has remained one of the most Western countries in the region, with a majority of the population supporting the country's integration into the EU and NATO.”

Seskuria said the lack of any significant international response to the unrest was likely to deepen and widen the crisis.

US Department of State they stopped the strategic partnership with Georgia at the end of November, announcing the country's move away from European integration.

“The Georgian people strongly support integration with Europe,” the State Department said when it suspended the partnership, adding to the criticism of “excessive use of force by the police in -against Georgians trying to exercise their rights of assembly and expression, including their freedom peacefully. complaint We ask all sides to ensure that protests remain peaceful.”

Seskuria said all eyes in Georgia were on the incoming Trump administration, with many wondering how he might approach the country's political turmoil given Mr. Trump's past comments. praising President Vladimir Putin.

President Zurabishvili, speaking to 60 Minutes in June, expressed her frustration with what she considered the US' lack of support for the peaceful protests against Russian political forces in her country.

“I think there is a need for more public recognition,” she said.