Participants in an anti-government rally in Tbilisi started a fire inside the Georgian parliament building, according to TASS. The agency suggested the blaze may have been sparked by a fireworks device that breached a window. There were no reports of loss of life from the incident. The event underscored the heightened tension between demonstrators and authorities during a period of political upheaval and brought attention to the security challenges faced by the legislative complex.
Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reported that protesters damaged approximately ten windows on the facade of the parliament building. The crowd used stones and other objects to break the iron fence and to strike glass and metal, leaving debris scattered around the entrance. The police presence coordinated to restore order while crowds remained in the area, reflecting the scale of the unrest and the visible anger in the public square.
From November 28, protests spread from Tbilisi to other cities in Georgia after authorities announced that negotiations on the country’s European Union accession would be suspended until 2028. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the decision, saying it was driven by actions by European politicians who used grants and loans as leverage. He criticized the European Parliament for what he described as insulting Georgia for years and for placing unfair pressure on the country during sensitive talks.
The move to pause EU accession talks triggered sharp discontent among the pro-Western opposition, whose leaders characterized the authorities’ actions as a betrayal of national interests. President Salome Zurabishvili, a longtime advocate for European integration, condemned the government’s stance and argued that the steps taken endangered the country’s direction and legitimacy. In remarks reported as the protests continued, she suggested that the political leadership had moved beyond acceptable lines and that the parliament had become illegitimate in the eyes of many citizens. On November 28, thousands gathered near the parliament and, by November 30, the demonstrations had swelled with participants who insisted they would not bow out regardless of constitutional timelines.
A former Georgian prime minister also voiced concern about the possibility of a Maidan-inspired scenario, urging restraint and calls for a peaceful, lawful path to resolve political disputes. The collective mood reflected a nation wrestling with its Western orientation amid a contentious domestic political landscape, where public opinion weighed heavily on the future of Georgia’s governance and its relationship with European institutions. The events drew broad attention from domestic observers and international commentators alike, highlighting the fragility of the political process at a critical moment for the country’s path toward closer ties with Europe and the prospect of renewed negotiations in the future.