Marking the 100th Day of Protest
Authors: Ani Ketsbaia and Elene Mikanadze / Editor: Vittorio Cascone, Alumni
As I am writing, it is already the 113th day of the endless protest that has been taking place in Georgia against the anti-democratic, anti-constitutional laws and actions that our government has passed, and the violence and barbarism the citizens have been subjected to. All this time, young people are being detained and civil servants and academics fired for their political views, our futures are at risk, and justice has become increasingly hard to find.
Yet amidst all the chaos, police brutality, fines and intimidation, protests continue not only in Tbilisi (the capital), but all over the country, and the phrase “I am Georgian and therefore I am European”, first uttered by Zurab Zhvania during his historic speech in the Council of Europe in 1999, still holds its ground, now more than ever. Citizens are finding creative ways to fight the new wave of authoritarianism by spreading the word, fighting propaganda and actively discussing. And among the young people balancing their studies, their activism and their mental health, is me, standing with pride and hope for a change that is to come.
Fire in the cold: the warmth of protest
The protests, both before and after last October’s elections, were massive. However, even in the winter, standing out in the cold streets with friends and like-minded individuals had never felt so right and warm.
Eventually, police started using water cannon against protesters, especially those of us standing in front of the parliament, turning the cold weather even colder. It didn’t stop there, but more importantly, it didn’t stop us. After the water cannons came the tear gas and mass detention of peaceful civilians at dawn. The protests would continue till sunrise, yet every sunrise – starting with a tragic call to a parent from a teenager in a detention cell – felt like a sunset to us all.
Fear does not stop us
Luckily for us, fear has never stopped us; and what followed the mass detentions and intimidating police calls was even greater unity among Georgians against the brutality and injustice. Regular citizens, especially Georgians in the diaspora, were the first to donate to organisations funding the fines being handed out to protesters.
While Ani was actively involved in the demonstrations in Georgia, I, Elene, found myself far away from home.
Hope in a foreign land
That was it! After changing three trains and traveling for more than six hours, I finally arrived in Stockholm. I had always dreamed of visiting this city as a tourist, but this time, I had a completely different mission.
It was late at night and I was exhausted. But, in just a few hours, I had to be at the Georgian Embassy to observe the elections. At the time, I was a European Solidarity Corps volunteer in Sweden, physically far from home, but my mind connected to every alarming development that was taking place back home in Georgia.
At the polling station, I met many familiar faces. Some were close friends I had first met in Georgia, now studying in Sweden to gain EU experience and bring new knowledge back home. We exchanged looks filled with unspoken hope and sadness at the same time. Among the observers, one woman stood with her infant in her arms, determined to witness the election process. Others spoke of their long journeys from the far north of Sweden, sacrificing time and resources to cast their votes.
I felt truly proud of them and I was proud to be part of this mission. But in the end, the outcome was not what we had hoped for. The long train ride back felt even longer. I carried a heavy heart, totally drained of hope.
Resistance knows no borders
We could not stop there. Soon after, demonstrations were held in Stockholm in front of the Georgian Embassy to protest against the rigged elections. Of course, it wasn’t just Sweden — this was a movement that spread internationally. The United Georgian Diasporas ‘Winds Movement’ was created as a platform to coordinate demonstrations across Europe and beyond. These protests in support of Georgia continue to this day, reflecting the unwavering determination of the Georgian people in their fight for democracy and resistance against Russian influence. ‘Join the human chain from anywhere in the world!’ was one of the most interesting initiatives. The protest chain on 28 December stretched across 45 cities around the world on three continents, in Europe, America and Australia.
In addition, Georgian students and young professionals launched the platform ‘Georgian Voices Abroad’ to raise awareness about the situation in Georgia. Though still new, the initiative is growing, with international students also joining the cause.
Shared stuggle
You will often see Georgians attending and speaking at Ukrainian demonstrations around the world. I felt truly honoured to be invited as a speaker at a protest organised in Stockholm by Ryssland ut ur Ukraina in front of the Russian Embassy. There I had the opportunity to speak about Georgia’s struggle. There, I met Stefan Löfven, the former Prime Minister of Sweden, along with incredible Swedish activists who showed remarkable solidarity.
It was my first time speaking at a demonstration, and I remember feeling nervous. But I knew I had to do it — because every citizen has a responsibility to be the voice of their country, to speak up for democracy and human rights, and to stand against oppression. Ukraine and Georgia were both facing external threats and a common fight for freedom, and I felt compelled to contribute to that shared struggle.
Strength is in unity
During my time abroad, I met wonderful people who, despite living far from home, remain deeply connected to Georgia. They continue to fight for the country’s European future. After long workdays, they dedicate their evenings to planning the next demonstration, the next steps to raise awareness and doing whatever they can to make a difference.
I only spent four months in Sweden. However, in those four months, so much changed in Georgia. One morning, I woke up to a video of my childhood friend being beaten by the police. Every day was torture, waiting for updates, checking my phone for the news with shaking hands, fearing the worst.
Now, I am back in Georgia, attending demonstrations, standing alongside those who refuse to give up. At the same time, I remain in close contact with the Georgian diaspora movements because I believe that only by uniting — within and beyond our borders — can we reclaim Georgia’s European and democratic future.
