Protesters organize motorcycle rally in Tbilisi

Activists demanding to hold repeated parliamentary elections and release those detained at protest actions have organized a motorcycle rally through the streets of Tbilisi.

The protests against the suspension of negotiations on the country’s membership in the European Union (EU) have been taking place in Georgia since November 28. Several marches took place on December 20, including those of IT specialists. On December 21, students and teachers, as well as guests from Kutaisi, marched through the streets of Tbilisi.

On December 12, Tbilisi hosted three separate protest actions held by IT specialists, musicians, and medical workers. On December 15, three marches were held by activists from the arts sphere, migrants from Abkhazia, and observers at the parliamentary elections. On December 16, filmmakers and writers held their march, and on December 17, employees of the tourism industry did the same. The division of the rally participants into social groups may indicate an expansion of the protest or an attempt by activists to create the appearance of such an expansion, analysts suggest.

A “two-wheeled march” began in front of the Sports Palace in Tbilisi, with participants arriving on motorcycles and carrying EU and Georgian flags in their hands. They are demanding the release of the activists detained at the protest actions and the appointment of new parliamentary elections, the “Interpressnews” reports.

The protest actions have been going on for three weeks already, but another surge in the protest activity may be expected on December 29, the day on which the Salome Zurabishvili’s presidential term ends, Georgian analysts suggest. The inauguration of the new Georgian president, Mikhail Kavelashvili, who was elected by members of the electoral college, has been scheduled for the same day.