Thousands protest in Tbilisi on Georgia's Independence Day

Thousands of pro-European Georgians took to the streets of Tbilisi on Tuesday to protest against what they describe as the government's anti-democratic and anti-Western course. The demonstrations coincided with the country's Independence Day.

Thousands of pro-European demonstrators flooded the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, on Tuesday, turning the country's Independence Day into a mass protest against the ruling government's political direction.

Protesters accuse the Georgian government of steering the country away from democracy and European integration, embracing an increasingly authoritarian and pro-Russian course. The demonstrations drew participants from across the country who gathered to voice their opposition on one of Georgia's most symbolic national holidays.

The protests are the latest in a series of ongoing public demonstrations that have gripped Georgia in recent months. Tensions have been rising since the ruling Georgian Dream party announced it would suspend EU accession talks until 2028, a decision that sparked widespread outrage among citizens who strongly support the country's path toward European integration.

Georgia's pro-EU movement has remained resilient despite pressure from authorities, with demonstrators continuing to take to the streets regularly. Critics of the government argue that Georgian Dream has been increasingly aligning the country with Russian interests, a charge the party denies.