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Local elections began in Georgia on Saturday, coinciding with mass protest calls by opposition leaders who view the vote as a “last chance” to protect democracy.
Meanwhile, the government issued a stark warning against what it terms attempts at “revolution.”
The ruling Georgian Dream party faces its first electoral challenge since a disputed parliamentary election last year plunged the Black Sea nation into political crisis and stalled its aspirations for deeper integration with the European Union.
Typically low-profile municipal polls have become a high-stakes contest after months of government crackdowns on independent media, restrictions on civil society, and the imprisonment of dozens of opposition figures and activists.
Imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili called on supporters to take to the streets, describing the election as a decisive moment.
“There are moments when action is needed here and now,” he wrote on Facebook. “Let’s take to the streets on October 4 and stand our ground. Freedom — now or never!”
Opera singer-turned-activist Paata Burchuladze also called for a “national assembly” outside parliament, framing it as a peaceful transfer of power from the Georgian Dream government.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed the protests as “radical” and warned demonstrators against violent action. “Their attempt at revolution will definitely fail,” he said. “We warn everyone again—don’t end up spending years behind bars.”
Public opinion in Tbilisi was sharply divided. “Georgian Dream is destroying our democracy and European future. They must go,” said 31-year-old architect Levan Baramidze. But schoolteacher Guliko Archvadze, 50, was sceptical. “We’ve protested for months, and nothing has changed. Another big rally won’t bring them down,” she said.
Rights groups report that about 60 people, including journalists, activists, and opposition leaders, have been jailed over the past year.
Amnesty International described the elections as occurring “amid severe political reprisals,” with fundamental freedoms under assault.
Georgian Dream, in power since 2012, is led by billionaire founder and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Initially presented as a liberal alternative to Saakashvili’s party, it has shifted closer to Moscow since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, introducing far-right policies and Kremlin-style restrictions on NGOs and media.
The party rejects accusations of authoritarianism, insisting it is protecting “stability” against a Western “deep state” allegedly trying to draw Georgia into the war in Ukraine through opposition groups.
Analysts say its message—“with the opposition, war; with us, peace”—resonates in rural areas, often amplified by disinformation.
A recent poll by the Institute of Social Studies and Analysis put Georgian Dream’s support at around 36 per cent, compared with 54 per cent for opposition parties.
The European Union has sanctioned several Georgian Dream officials over previous crackdowns and warned that Georgia’s visa-free travel rights could be suspended unless the government improves the rule of law and safeguards fundamental freedoms.
However, the opposition remains deeply divided. Saakashvili’s United National Movement and its allies plan to boycott the polls and hold mass protests, while other parties, such as Lelo and For Georgia, are fielding candidates and downplaying expectations for large demonstrations.
