In Georgia, the streets are alive with voices demanding freedom and a European future.
For over a week, thousands of people have poured into Tbilisi, the country’s capital, to push back against a government they say is turning its back on democracy.
But those voices have been met with fists, batons, and masked enforcers who leave behind a trail of broken bones and shattered cameras, according to Digi24.
The unrest began after the Georgian government halted talks to join the European Union, despite overwhelming public support for membership.
For many in this former Soviet republic, joining the EU represents not just a political choice but a rejection of a darker past. Yet, instead of listening to the people, the government responded with force.
Attacked by Masked Men
Journalists, protesters, and opposition leaders say they’ve been attacked by masked men who act more like thugs than law enforcement.
Aleksandre Keshelashvili, a local journalist, recounted being dragged from a crowd and beaten unconscious. He woke up in the hospital with a broken nose and no equipment. “We’re a small publication,” he said. “We can’t afford to replace what they took.”
Others tell similar stories. Guram Rogava, a TV reporter, was struck from behind while walking away from a live broadcast. The blow fractured a bone in his neck.
Doctors warned him he was inches away from losing the use of his arms and legs. “I don’t even remember it,” Rogava said. He had to watch footage later to piece together what happened.
Protesters in custody face worse. Detainees describe being kicked, punched, and stomped on by masked officers. One man’s jaw was broken so badly he could no longer speak.
Another says police ignored his request for time to gather evidence of his assault before rushing him through a court hearing.
Despite the violence, crowds keep growing. Many believe this fight goes beyond EU membership. It’s about the kind of country Georgia wants to be. One protester put it simply: “We’re not going back to the past.”
Every night, people fill the streets again. They carry signs, chant, and refuse to back down.
