Nationwide strike for new elections announced in Georgia

The protest, which will take place on January 15 at 3 p.m. local time, aims to demand new parliamentary elections and the release of detained protesters. The strike organizers are calling on employers and their employees across the country to temporarily suspend their operations for three hours.

According to the strike organizers, this way they will demonstrate how the lack of changes in the country's political life leads to economic stagnation and a decline in living standards.

“By going on strike, we will show what awaits us in isolation: economic stagnation; closed businesses; poverty and unemployment...” the statement reads.

The main demands of the protesters are repeated parliamentary elections and the release of those detained during the protests that took place after the parliamentary elections in late October.

Protests in Georgia

In October 2024, parliamentary elections were held in Georgia. According to the Georgian Central Election Commission, the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party, which has been ruling the country for more than 10 years, won. The opposition refused to recognize the election results.

At the same time, Georgia's ruling party announced that it was suspending the country's integration into the EU. This caused a wave of protests.

Mass protests are still going on in Georgia. Citizens demand new parliamentary elections and the release of detained protesters.

In November and December 2024, numerous protests took place in the country, during which security forces used force to disperse the protesters. The authorities began deportation procedures for foreigners who participated in the protests, ordering 91 people to leave the country.

On December 14, the electoral college elected a former footballer with anti-Western views, Mikheil Kavelashvili, as president of Georgia.