Table Stakes - December 2nd

Good morning everyone,

I'm Daniel, and welcome to Table Stakes!

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• Georgian protests turned into riots after a fraudulent election postponed EU integration.

• Zelenskyy signaled willingness to cede Ukrainian territory to Russia in order to end the war and join NATO.

• Trump promised a 100% tariff on all BRICS members if they follow through with plans to replace the dollar.

A Deadly Identity Crisis

By: Daniel Murrah

Over 40 Georgians have been hospitalized and 100 arrested after protests against the government's suspension of European Union membership negotiations turned violent.

The protests came after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that EU membership negotiations would be frozen until 2028. To be clear, Kobakhidze has said he wants Georgia to join the European Union. But a recent election overshadowed by allegations of fraud and corruption has caused a rift between Tbilisi and Brussels, which Kobakhidze says makes these negotiations impossible in the short term.

The Election

On October 26, Georgia's parliamentary election resulted in a victory for the incumbent Georgian Dream party, which claimed 56% of the vote. This election was seen not only as a parliamentary election, but also as a de facto referendum on EU membership.

The main opposition party, labeled the United National Movement, which has a much greater sense of urgency regarding EU membership, immediately condemned the election results as fraudulent, citing examples of voter intimidation, bribery, double counting, media interference, and electronic vote tampering. Although both parties officially say they support EU integration, many Georgians expect the now-victorious party to continue kicking the can down the road.

In response to the election, many international authorities have expressed concern regarding the state of democracy in Georgia. United States President Joe Biden said he was “deeply alarmed” by democratic “backsliding” in the country. The election also took a toll on what was an already troublesome Georgia-EU relationship. The EU has repeatedly raised concerns Georgia's election practices, which the Prime Minister has dismissed as "blackmail."

The Protests

In response to the postponement of EU membership talks, pro-EU Georgians took to the streets to protest. These protests have been ongoing for the last 4 consecutive nights, occurring all across the country but primarily in the capital of Tbilisi.

The protests quickly devolved into violent riots. Protesters reportedly threw stones and fireworks at riot police, who responded with water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray. Since the violence began, 44 have been hospitalized, including protesters, police officers, and a journalist. On top of that, over 100 have been detained.

Moving Forward

Although the ruling Georgian Dream party still officially supports EU membership by 2030, the recent election is undeniably a step backwards for a westward Georgia. Locals have accused the party of delaying the discussions in order to maintain a pro-Russian stance, while the party has distanced itself from Brussels after receiving backlash regarding the election.

The protests demonstrate that the people of Georgia are not aligned with their government. After decades of Russian influence, Georgians are extremely motivated to change course and deepen relations with the West in order to maintain stability and opportunity. Wherever these protests go in the coming weeks, the Georgian Dream party may be forced to follow.