In Tbilisi, Georgia last night, the ruling Georgian Dream party opened a Christmas village. The Georgian people are too busy protesting and so angry at the government that nobody went.
Well, that's not strictly true. Georgian Nikoloz Humonodi was there. He even took some amazing self portraits that fall somewhere in the space between performance art and massive pisstake.
In Tbilisi, Georgia, today, by my count there are 'only' 6 separate marches on parliament. The Kakhetians, French speakers, English teachers, Erasmus students, Motorcyclists, and Army veterans.
It seems they are saving some space outside parliament for 9 p.m. Tbilisi time when President Salome Zourabichvilli is due to address the protestors and the nation.
What she has to say is being kept under wraps, so, watch that space.
How to explain this one. In Tbilisi, Georgia there's a Christmas village the government has put on in an attempt to distract from the huge protests happening nightly.
The people are boycotting the Christmas village. Last night it was completely empty.
Tonight President Zourabichvilli took to the stage at the Christmas village in front of a huge crowd of protestors, said 'This space is ours now' and left, to thunderous applause.
After the ruling Georgian Dream stole her first sound system and jammed the signal on the replacement microphone, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvilli had to postpone her address to the protestors outside parliament in Tbilisi Georgia this evening. She will give her full address from the palace tomorrow.
The thousands of disappointed protestors saw her off home with a rousing chorus of the Georgian national anthem.
Earlier this evening, President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvilli tried to address a crowd of thousands of demonstrators in Tbilisi.
Just because they are that petty, the ruling Georgian Dream party jammed her microphone so most of the crowd couldn't hear what she had to say.
The Georgian Dream are petty, they're also not very bright. She has effortlessly outsmarted them by going online and posting what she had to say. It's in the posts below. š
"Election has not taken place: There is only one formula to resolve the current crisis, one universally recognized in every democratic country - new elections!
I invite Ivanishvili, Kobakhidze, Papuashvili, and other involved parties to Orbeliani Palace to negotiate.
The only topic: when and how to hold new elections!"
Salome Zourabichvilli.
/1š
"I am ready to sit down and find a solution on how to schedule elections, but the decision must be agreed upon by the 29th.
By the 29th, we all have the opportunity to move this country forward - making Georgia a global example of democracy, reconciliation, and progress!"
Salome Zourabichvilli,
President of Georgia.
/2š
"Georgia never surrenders when it stands for what is right. And Georgia is right - you are right!
I will remain loyal - loyal to this country and to the Constitution to which I swore an oath six years ago.
Though trampled underfoot, this Constitution stands firm, just like Georgia.
I will uphold it and remain faithful to it!"
Salome Zourabichvilli,
President of Georgia.
/3š
"I am, and will remain, loyal to the peopleānot just those here today, but all Georgians.
Let no one doubt that I am, and will always be, everyoneās President!!
I will remain loyal to the Georgian Armyāits veterans, soldiers, and steadfast partners who built and strengthened it.
I am, and will remain, its Commander-in-Chief!"
Salome Zourabichvili,
President of Georgia.
/4 Fin
"They threaten to jail her.
Does she look scared or confused to you?
She is so clearly rejoicing in history in making, fully comprehending her role in it, and feeling the ever-increasing public gratitude and love.
Born to be here and now.
Our only legitimate President, Salome Zourabichvilli !"
Marika Mikiashvili,
Georgia.
Day 26 of protests in Georgia brings 11 sperate protests to Tbilisi.
The desire to be rid of the illegitimate government is so clear that even the Philosophers are in agreement.
'I think, therefore I am, marching to parliament.'
In Tbilisi Georgia, the protests just go on and on, like an unstoppable river of people.
Today, the oncology patients are taking their turn to march on parliament in protest against their illegitimate government.
"I defeated cancer, I'll defeat the Georgian Dream too."
In Georgia, President Salome Zourabichvilli has just given an address from her office which is the same as the one she tried to give to protestors last night before the ruling Georgian Dream party jammed her microphone.
She stated that the country has two options: either Ivanishvili and the regime compromise on new elections now before December 29 (the sham inauguration of the new puppet President), or the all-encompassing crisis deepens and the regime collapses.
"Trump should judge Georgian Dream for what it is. A group of corrupt thugs who want to smash Georgiaās constitution and people into obedience in order that they might better enrich themselves and better serve American adversaries in Moscow and Beijing."
The Georgian Dream government in Tbilisi, Georgia, should face President-elect Donald Trump's sanctions.
In Georgia, the ruling party are absolutely counting on Trump to turn a blind eye to their 'democratic backsliding' and their plan to sell most of Georgia to Russia, Iran and China. I think their plan is hinging on Trump not realising that Georgia can mean a country as well as a state.
Meanwhile, on Fox News...
"The level of the authoritiesā violence against largely peaceful protesters is shocking, blatantly retaliatory, and violates Georgiaās domestic laws and international norms."
"The scale of the police ill-treatment of protesters and the failure of Georgian authorities to hold them accountable for it indicates they either authorized or condoned the violence.ā
Hugh Williamson,
Human Rights Watch.
#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorInGeorgia
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/23/georgia-brutal-police-violence-against-protesters
"President Salome Zourabichvili is the voice of European Georgia. For many, she is the last legitimate power."
Professor Kornely Kakachia,
Georgian Institute of Politics.
U.S. Sanctions Georgian Dream Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili.
"Ivanishvili is being designated for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the United States or abroad, for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation."
https://www.state.gov/sanctioning-georgian-dream-founder-bidzina-ivanishvili/
If there is one person in Georgia who deserves to be sanctioned, it's Georgian Dream chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili. He's the Russian backed billionaire puppet master behind the whole show.
And the U.S. have just sanctioned him. Yes!
"The U.S. is sanctioning Bidzina Grigoris Dze Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream. His actions have enabled human rights abuses and undermined the democratic and European future of the Georgian people for the benefit of the Russian Federation."
Matthew Miller,
U.S. State Department Spokesperson.
Protest.24 is a Georgian organisation that has been trying to keep tabs on the amount of anti government protests in Georgia.
I say they are trying because it's impossible to keep tabs on all the protests happening across Georgia. They have been happening for over 30 days in over 40 towns and cities.
The Georgia Protests are massive.
This astonishing graphic just shows the amount of protests that have happened in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia.
There have been 178 anti governent protests in the last couple of weeks or so.
178 protests. And that's just the capital.
Happening across Georgia right now is a human chain forming in protest against the government and in solidarity with the only legitimate President of Georgia Salome Zourabchivili, whose official term ends today. She has stated she will be staying in office until new legitimate elections is held
This is the mountaineers section of the chain.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has just joined the human chain of unity in Tbilisi, Georgia. Because of course she has.
"A country that has been through war against Terrorist Russia does not apologize."
Huge banner unfurled across a bridge in Tbilisi, Georgia as part of a national chain of unity.
āFuck that man who first praised Russians.ā
Akaki Tsereteli,
19th C Georgian poet.
Banner put up at Metekhi Church, Tbilisi, Georgia as part of human chain of unity, happening across Georgia, right now.
In Georgia today there is a human chain of unity in protest of the illegitimate government. There are hundreds of thousands of people joining hands across Georgia, but it's not just Georgia.
There are dozens of towns and cities across Europe and the world joining in. This is Trafalgar Square in London.
In Georgia, President Salome Zourabichvili has decided to leave her official residence before the contested inauguration of the new president.
āI will be with you. This building was a symbol only as long as a legitimate president was sitting here. I take legitimacy with me. I am taking the flag with me. I am taking the peopleās trust with me.ā
"Georgian President Zourabichvili made a wise and decisive choice not to remain at her presidential residence, as doing so would have marginalized the process and turned it into a circus. The Georgian people need a president who stands with them, serving as a true conveyor of their messages and pleas to the outside world.
Unlike Mikheil Kavelashvili and other leaders, the President has the privilege of walking among her people, and she is right to embrace that."
Anna Gvarishvili,
"In Georgia, there are two different images here.
There are those who are locked up in the Parliament, afraid, sold out, illegitimate, not recognized by anyone, sanctioned and angry.
We are open, free, joyful, very calm. The truth is with us because we have love for the country, and with us, perhaps more importantly, we have love for each other, and that is why we will win."
Salome Zourabchivili,
President of Georgia.
To understand why the president of Georgia just left the presidential palace of her own accord when she is still the legitimate president is not difficult.
If she had stayed, the illigitimate regime would have come to arrest her and the people would have defended the building and their president to the end.
She could have chosen to do that, but she didn't. Putting people in harms way is not a real presidents style.
Also, now she's President of Georgia, and she's at large.
"Next week, I will introduce the Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act, which will prohibit US recognition of the illegal dictatorial regime in Georgia and recognize Salome Zourabichvili as the only legitimate leader in Georgia until such a time as free and fair elections are held."
Rep. Joe Wilson,
Chair,
U.S. Helsinki Commission.
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/us-recognizes-zourabichvili-as-only-legitimate-1735427302.html
Next week, a bill will be introduced in the US Congress recognizing Salome Zourabichvili as the sole legitimate president of Georgia. This pertains to the period until fair re-elections are held in the country, states Republican Joe Wilson on social media platform X, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee in the House of Representatives.
Joint statement by the Nordic-Baltic Foreign Ministers on the situation in Georgia.
"We are seriously concerned about the situation in Georgia.
Georgia urgently needs a way out of the crisis, and to restore public trust in its democratic institutions. We urge the Georgian authorities to take immediate steps in this direction, including by implementing OSCE electoral recommendations and by considering the possibility of new elections based on these recommendations."
"In Georgia, as protests entered their 32nd day, the crisis deepened when President Salome Zourabichvili relocated from her residence, vowing to continue serving as president until new parliamentary elections are held.
The ruling Georgian Dream party installed their own president Mikheil Kavelashvili.
This move, rather than dampening protest momentum, has only highlighted the growing divide between a government clinging to power and a population demanding change."
President Zourabichvili's palace exit marks new phase in Georgia's crisis, as protests against EU integration suspension unite opposition, businesses, and international allies.
In Georgia, a whole series of repressive laws come into effect today, including the banning of the use of fireworks at protests.
Protestors in Zugdidi protested against them immediately.
š„"Fire To Oligarchy!"š„
This massive protest banner was unveiled earlier this morning on Narikala Fortress Wall in Tbilisi, Georgia. It says 'Fire to Oligarchy' in Georgian. It's yet another example of how the protestors in Georgia are dominating the civic space.
The message is being interpreted as a powerful mix of threat, curse and prophecy.
In Georgia, New Year's Eve will be marked with a magical mash up celebration/protest outside parliament in Tbilisi with guest of honour President Zurabishvili. It sounds like a lot of fun. They've been advertising it for weeks.
Meanwhile, the official city New Year celebration is going ahead. While it's past 5 p.m. in Tbilisi, the mayor has yet to disclose the start time, the venue or the line up as he's scared the protestors might turn up.
Who's really in charge of Georgia?
This is New Year in Tbilisi. It's a protest outside parliament but it's also a celebration with a supra feast table being laid out. It's full of food now, and the supposedly banned fireworks are all going off.
What a way to see in the new year.
New Year's Eve in Tbilisi, Georgia was also the 34th consecutive night of protests against the government outside parliament.
There were around 200,000 people and in the middle of all of them they had set up a 1 Kilometre long supra feast table where people brought food to share.
In Georgia, they are rebuilding civic society, in spite of and because of their Russia backed illegitimate government, from the bottom up.
This is a mesmerising traditional Georgian dance from the magical new year's eve celebration demonstration in Tbilisi last night, attended by the only legitimate president of Georgia Salome Zourabchivili. You can spot her watching in the crowd with the rest of the people.
It's beautiful, but is it art or is it protest, and why can't it be both?
This is Georgia, the 2025 version.
"What is happening now in Georgia is not just a local dispute on the periphery of Europe.
It is one of the episodes in Russiaās centuries-long imperial actions and Putinās hybrid war against democracies.
It is worth looking at the broader picture of recent decades to understand the essence of these events."
Rasa JukneviÄienÄ,
Permanent Rapporteur on Georgian Affairs at the European Parliament.
https://elpnariai.lt/en/r-jukneviciene-about-georgia-and-beyond/
In Georgia, January 2nd is the holiday of Bedoba. It's believed the way you spend the day on Bedoba will determine your whole year ahead.
So of course the Georgians are out protesting against their illegitimate Russia backed government today.
"Republican and Democratic lawmakers are renewing efforts to pass legislation supporting Georgia.
Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), the chairs of the Helsinki Commission, reintroduced on Friday the MEGOBARI Act, which codifies sanctions against Georgian government officials for human rights abuses and undermining democracy.
The legislation comes amid mass protests against a power grab by the Georgian Dream party and Russian interference."
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5066323-georgia-bipartisan-legislation-helsinki-commission/
OSCE President Pia Kauma has postponed her visit to Georgia to discuss the recommendations in the OSCE report on the recent elections in Georgia.
This follows criticism from the opposition in Georgia who regarded the visit as legitimising the regime.
https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/136663-pia-kauma-ive-decided-to-postpone-visiting-georgia/
In Georgia, tonight is Christmas Eve which this year coincides with the 40th consecutive night of protests against the illegitimate Russia backed government.
The streets of Tbilisi are every bit as crowded as they have been, but tonight there are beautiful carols. This one is called 'Alilo'.
In Georgia, the government extended the Christmas holiday period in the hope people would go skiing instead of protesting.
So people have decided to go skiing as well as protesting.
In Georgia, the illegitimate Russia backed government have banned all masks and face coverings at protests. But they didn't say anything about giant walking bubbles!
If you look at the space where protest, performance art and massive pisstake meet, you'll find a Georgian there, every time.
"The OSCE invoked the Vienna mechanism to also make clear that the steps that have been taken, including legislation, that profoundly squeezes the space for freedom of expression and freedom of action by the civil society- that has to change.ā
There is a clear unity of purpose when it comes to the United states, France and many other countries faced with the very unfortunate actions of the government of Georgia.ā
Anthony Blinken,
U.S. State Dept.
ProjectFearlessness
