Georgians are expressing solidarity with Iranian protesters while continuing their own demonstrations against the ruling party’s decision to halt EU accession, reflecting a shared struggle for democracy.
In Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, demonstrators are displaying Iranian Lion and Sun flags during daily protests, signaling solidarity with their counterparts in Iran while opposing their government’s recent halt to European Union accession efforts.
As Iranians take to the streets demanding the downfall of the Islamic Republic, Georgians have been protesting at various levels of intensity for over a year. These protests were ignited by the disputed parliamentary elections of October 2024, which saw the pro-Russia Georgian Dream party claim victory and subsequently suspend Georgia’s EU membership aspirations.
Despite facing freezing temperatures and allegations of violence from authorities, many Georgians continue to rally in support of democracy. “When you walk through the demonstrations every day in Tbilisi, all people talk about is Iran,” said Tinatin Khidasheli, a former defense minister of Georgia. “The heated debate over it shows how much it matters and how optimism is out on the streets due to developments despite controversies.”
Khidasheli emphasized that the situation in Iran resonates deeply with Georgians. “If people can challenge a far more despotic and violent regime, it reinforces the belief that resistance in Georgia is not futile,” she added.
The protests in Georgia intensified after the Georgian Dream party halted the country’s path toward EU integration. Public opinion polls indicate that a significant majority of Georgians support joining the EU, making the government’s decision particularly contentious.
Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare, has become a focal point for protests, with demonstrators chanting and blocking traffic in response to the ruling party’s pivot away from Europe and toward a Russian-oriented foreign policy.
Erekle Koplatadze, a 33-year-old protester from Tbilisi, has been participating in demonstrations almost daily since November 2024. He was detained for six days for allegedly blocking a road during a protest in November 2025. Koplatadze noted a strong sense of solidarity with the Iranian protests, which began in December 2022 against economic mismanagement and regime corruption. “You will see many Lion and Sun flags in front of Georgia’s Parliament. And there have been protests in front of the Iranian Embassy in Tbilisi,” he said.
The news emerging from Iran, particularly regarding the regime’s violent crackdown on dissent, has deeply affected many Georgians. “I don’t remember such a big protest in Tbilisi in support of a foreign nation except for Ukraine,” Koplatadze remarked.
Ana Riaboshenko, co-founder of the “Initiative Culture For Democracy,” also highlighted the interconnectedness of the struggles in Iran and Georgia. “Its transformation from a terrorist state to a democratic government will significantly change the situation and indeed contribute substantially to the global power balance and economy,” she stated. “A particularly positive outcome is expected with the collapse of the Russian-Iranian partnership.”
Riobashenko pointed out that representatives of the Georgian Dream party have positioned themselves as allies of Tehran, with bilateral relations increasing since the controversial elections of 2024. A report from Civic IDEA, a Georgian NGO, revealed that Iranian businesses are using Georgia as a strategic transit point to evade international sanctions, with nearly 13,000 Iranian companies registered in the country.
Marika Mikiashvili, Foreign Secretary of the Droa party, part of Georgia’s largest democratic alliance, expressed admiration for the bravery of Iranian protesters. However, she also cautioned that their struggle serves as a warning. “Many protesters see Iran as a cautionary tale of what happens when a consolidating dictatorship isn’t defeated soon enough,” Mikiashvili warned.
Despite the ongoing protests, the Georgian Dream government has not issued any statements supporting the pro-democracy movements or condemning the human rights violations committed by security forces against peaceful demonstrators. Instead, the government has enacted stringent anti-demonstration laws to suppress dissent, employing disproportionate force against protesters.
Human Rights Watch has documented numerous violations of the right to peaceful assembly in Georgia, including steep fines for protest-related activities and abusive police tactics. Since the Georgian Dream party’s election, approximately 600 individuals have been arbitrarily detained, 300 protesters have reported torture or inhumane treatment, and 1,000 citizens have faced fines for expressing political opinions. Additionally, around 400 journalists have been arrested, beaten, or harassed, according to Transparency International Georgia, an NGO focused on combating corruption.
As both Georgians and Iranians continue their respective fights for democracy, the shared experiences of struggle and resilience highlight the interconnected nature of their movements.
According to Fox News Digital.