According to OC Media, protesters marched from several streets across the capital to converge on parliament, the traditional site of anti-government actions, on the 366th consecutive day of demonstrations. The slogan "Till the end!" echoed through the crowds, underscoring the movement's determination to continue despite mounting pressure from authorities.
The protests began on 28 November 2024, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia was halting its EU membership application "until the end of 2028." For many citizens, this represented the ruling Georgian Dream party's definitive abandonment of the country's European aspirations.
"Our country doesn't deserve this. Our place is unquestionably in Europe," Sopo Alavidze, a 39-year-old public health specialist, said at the demonstration. She was among thousands who spontaneously flooded the streets when the prime minister made his announcement a year ago.
While initial protests drew tens of thousands daily, participation has declined over the year due to state pressure, exhaustion, and growing despair. Nevertheless, groups of demonstrators continue gathering outside parliament on Rustaveli Avenue every single day.
The ruling party has employed various tactics to suppress the movement, including police violence, dozens of arrests, restrictive laws, heavy fines, and administrative detentions. Critics describe these measures as part of an accelerating consolidation of authoritarianism that has also targeted civil society, independent media, and political opposition.
Many early participants now observe the protests from prison cells. Among them is Zviad Tsetskhladze, a 20-year-old student activist sentenced to two and a half years in prison on charges of "organising group actions that violate public order." His father, Zurab Tsetskhladze, continues attending protests wearing a T-shirt featuring his son's photo.
"The strength of the prisoners' families comes from our children behind bars. They remain steadfast there, and through this, they give us both energy and strength," the elder Tsetskhladze said.
Graphic designer Dato Simonia, who has documented protesters through a social media series called "Who stands on Rustaveli," described the past year in stark terms. "When I think about this past year, the first word that comes to mind is 'survival' — not just physical survival, but also moral and ethical," he said.
Activist Tatia Dvali from the Movement for Social Democracy, which emerged alongside the protests, emphasised broader concerns about Georgia's future, including threats to education, media freedom, and environmental protection.
As the movement enters its second year, discussions continue about strategy and prospects for change. Despite frustration among some participants, organisers remain resolute.
"If we agree that injustice and the Georgian Dream's power are vast and total, it is equally clear that this cannot be changed in a single day," Dvali concluded.