Georgian Protesters Find Solidarity with Iranian Demonstrators in Shared Democratic Struggle

While thousands of Iranians take to the streets daily demanding the downfall of the Islamic Republic, citizens in Georgia have maintained their own protest movement for over a year following disputed parliamentary elections in 2024. Both movements, though separated by geography and context, have found common cause in their struggle against governments they view as corrupt and undemocratic.

In Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, demonstrators braving freezing temperatures draw inspiration from their Iranian counterparts fighting against a more entrenched authoritarian regime.

“When you walk through the demonstrations every day in Tbilisi, all people talk about is Iran. The heated debate over it shows how much it matters and how optimism is out on the streets due to developments despite controversies,” Tinatin Khidasheli, Georgia’s former defense minister, told Fox News Digital.

The Georgian protests began in October 2024 after the pro-Russia Georgian Dream party claimed election victory and subsequently halted the country’s efforts to join the European Union. This pivot away from the EU has sparked widespread anger in a nation where polls consistently show overwhelming public support for European integration.

Each day, Tbilisi’s main Rustaveli Avenue fills with protesters chanting and blocking traffic, expressing outrage at what they see as the ruling party pulling Georgia away from Europe and toward a Russian-oriented foreign policy.

Erekle Koplatadze, a 33-year-old Tbilisi resident who has participated in protests almost daily since November 2024, notes the visible solidarity with Iranian demonstrators. “You will see many Lion and Sun flags (Iran’s national flag until the 1979 Islamic Revolution) in front of Georgia’s Parliament. And there have been protests in front of the Iranian Embassy in Tbilisi,” said Koplatadze, who was detained for six days in November 2025 for allegedly blocking a road during a protest.

The Iranian protests, which began in December following economic mismanagement and regime corruption, have resonated deeply with Georgian demonstrators. Koplatadze described how news of the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown has shaken many Georgians, creating a shared sense of empathy. “I don’t remember such a big protest in Tbilisi in support of a foreign nation except for Ukraine,” he added.

Ana Riaboshenko, co-founder of “Initiative Culture For Democracy,” believes developments in Iran directly affect Georgia and the broader region. “Its transformation from a terrorist state to a democratic government will significantly change the situation and indeed contribute substantially to the global power balance and economy. A particularly positive outcome is expected with the collapse of the Russian-Iranian partnership.”

The connections between the two countries extend beyond protest movements. Riaboshenko pointed out that Russian-backed Georgian Dream representatives have positioned themselves as partners with Tehran, with bilateral relations and cooperation increasing since the disputed 2024 elections.

A July 2025 report by Georgian NGO Civic IDEA detailed how Iranian businesses use Georgia as a strategic transit point to evade international sanctions and channel funds back to Iran. The report identified nearly 13,000 Iranian companies registered in Georgia.

As Georgian Dream has consolidated power, it has implemented harsh anti-demonstration laws to suppress dissent, using disproportionate force and other brutal tactics to quell unrest. Human Rights Watch has documented numerous legal restrictions interfering with Georgians’ rights to peacefully assemble, including steep fines for protest-related violations and abusive police tactics.

According to Transparency International Georgia, since Georgian Dream’s election, 600 people have been arbitrarily detained, 300 protesters were tortured or subjected to inhumane treatment, 1,000 citizens received fines for political opinions, and 400 journalists have been arrested, beaten, and harassed.

Marika Mikiashvili, Foreign Secretary of the opposition party Droa, summarized the dual nature of the relationship between the movements: “Many protesters see Iran as a cautionary tale of what happens when a consolidating dictatorship isn’t defeated soon enough,” while also finding profound inspiration in the courage of Iranian demonstrators.

Unlike many Western governments, the Georgian Dream administration has issued no statements supporting the pro-democracy protests in Iran or condemning security force human rights violations against demonstrators.