Tbilisi: Nika Gvaramia, leader of Georgia’s Coalition for Change opposition party, was detained by police in Tbilisi following a violent confrontation, his party reported on Wednesday. A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) shows Gvaramia, 48, being carried unconscious by several men down a flight of steps before being placed into a detention vehicle.
The party claimed Gvaramia had been “physically assaulted” before losing consciousness. Police have not commented on the incident, and Georgian authorities have yet to address the allegations. The detention comes during ongoing protests against the government’s decision to suspend talks on European Union membership, which critics argue represents a shift toward authoritarianism and closer ties with Russia.
Government Defends Actions Amid Crackdown Allegations
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed claims of government repression, describing the actions as “prevention” rather than suppression. He alleged, without evidence, that opposition forces had been supplying fireworks to protesters, which were later used against the police.
“People were systematically supplied with pyrotechnics and other means by the relevant political forces,” Kobakhidze said during a press conference.
The protests have drawn widespread criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups, who accuse the ruling government of undermining Georgia’s pro-Western aspirations. Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s pro-EU president and a vocal supporter of the protest movement, urged international intervention.
“My urgent call to our partners and those who want to prevent (the) crisis to go deeper… It is time to put strong pressure on a ruling party that is driving the country over the cliff! Do not be late…!” Zourabichvili wrote on X.
Broader Opposition Crackdown
The Coalition for Change reported that multiple members of its party were detained alongside Gvaramia. Additionally, the United National Movement claimed police raided its Tbilisi offices, arresting five members. Interpress news agency reported that two members of another opposition party, Strong Georgia, were also detained, along with a leader of the Dafioni youth protest movement.
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Georgia’s public ombudsman accused the police of mistreating detained protesters, describing their actions as tantamount to torture. Despite these allegations, Kobakhidze has repeatedly praised the police for their handling of the demonstrations.
A Nation in Crisis
The government’s suspension of EU accession talks has thrown the country of 3.7 million into political turmoil. Critics argue the move signals a departure from democratic values and a pivot toward Moscow, though the ruling party denies such claims.
