Tensions rise in Tbilisi as police target opposition leaders, activists amid protests

Georgian police have arrested Gela Khasaia, an activist and member of the Coalition for Change, near the Girchi-Droa office in Tbilisi.

The arrest, carried out by masked law enforcement officers during a Ministry of Internal Affairs search of the office, has sparked further outrage. Footage of the incident shows Khasaia being detained without any visible illegal activity, just days after he was reportedly assaulted near his home. His injuries from that attack were still visible at the time of his arrest.

Nika Gvaramia, founder of the opposition party Ahali and a leader in the Coalition for Change, was also detained near the same office. Eyewitnesses report that Gvaramia was forcibly carried to a police vehicle and appeared unwell, prompting calls for medical assistance from on-site journalists.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has expanded its crackdown to include raids on the offices of opposition parties such as United National Movement, Girchi-Droa, and Ahali, as well as the homes of activist group members. The actions coincide with ongoing mass protests demanding the resignation of the government and new parliamentary elections following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s controversial November 28 announcement. Kobakhidze stated that EU membership negotiations and grant funding would be delayed until the end of 2028.

For six consecutive nights, protesters have rallied in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi, facing escalating police violence. Law enforcement officers have used water cannons, tear gas, and physical force to disperse demonstrators, with numerous reports of injuries and detentions. Several journalists have also reported assaults, and dozens of injured individuals are being treated in nearby clinics daily.

The government has doubled down on its stance, with Kobakhidze declaring that “even the leaders of wealthy NGOs hiding in offices cannot escape responsibility established by law.”