Georgian parliament opens amid protests, opposition boycott

Georgia’s spring parliamentary session opened amid tight security as protests erupted outside. Demonstrators demanded the release of detained journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, while opposition parties boycotted the session, rejecting the legitimacy of the October elections. Inside, President Kavelashvili

The first session of Georgia’s 11th parliament, formed after disputed elections on October 26, began on February 4 amid protests and heightened security. Civil society groups and journalists gathered outside to call for the release of Mzia Amaghlobeli, who has been on a hunger strike for 24 days since her arrest on January 12.

Authorities activated parliament’s yellow security level, citing security concerns. But critics see it as a sign of growing political instability rather than a protective measure.

Kavelashvili’s Speech: Defiance and Criticism

Addressing lawmakers, President Mikheil Kavelashvili defended the elections and said that “forces inside and outside the country” must accept the people’s choice. He accused Georgia’s Western allies of applying “double standards” and undermining European values, reinforcing the ruling party’s increasingly defiant stance against the EU.

Kavelashvili also warned of ongoing threats to Georgia’s stability, saying the country has been “walking on a knife edge” since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. He claimed that “anti-Georgian forces” were working to destabilize the country, a narrative often used by the government to justify its cautious foreign policy.

Opposition Boycott and New Laws

The opposition is absent from parliament, continuing its boycott in protest against what they call fraudulent elections. Their refusal to participate leaves GD lawmakers largely unchallenged as they try to pass new legislation.

A day before the session, ruling party leader Mamuka Mdinaradze announced plans to extend administrative detention from 15 to 60 days and introduce criminal penalties of up to three years for "public calls to violence.

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