I n the heart of Tbilisi’s Armenian quarter, Avlabari Square is where crowds gather for the “Saturday March”. Every weekend, protesters head towards the Bridge of Love, reach Freedom Square and march towards parliament, chanting slogans against Irakli Kobakhidze’s government.

Demonstrators in Tblisi take part in the Saturday March, when pro-European parties and movements march through the historic centre to protest against the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which critics accuse of being pro-Russian.

For years, the target has been the same: Georgian Dream, the ultraconservative party in power since 2012, accused of growing authoritarianism and, through its decision to suspend EU accession talks, moving the country closer to Moscow again. Georgia was granted EU candidate status in 2023.

Monday marks two years since the contested parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024 that ignited the political crisis.…