• An estimated 60,000 people gathered outside the Georgian parliament for the “March for Europe”.
• The event was organised by pro-democracy organisations and backed by all opposition parties.
• EU leaders are scheduled to make a decision on Georgia’s membership application by Friday.

TBILISI – After the European Commission recommended delaying Tbilisi’s application, tens of thousands of Georgians flocked to the streets on Monday to show their support for the country’s EU membership quest.

Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia all applied for EU membership shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24, and EU leaders are scheduled to make a decision by Friday.

An estimated 60,000 people gathered outside the Georgian parliament on Monday evening for the “March for Europe,” waving Georgian, Ukrainian, and EU flags.

As the EU anthem, the Ode to Joy, was performed at the demonstration, several people raised signs that stated “We are Europe.”

The event was organised by Georgia’s main pro-democracy organisations and backed by all opposition parties to “show the Georgian people’s devotion to its European choice and Western ideals.”

“Europe is a historical choice and dream of Georgians for which all generations have sacrificed,” the rally’s organisers wrote on Facebook.

Shota Digmelashvili, a rights activist, gave out a manifesto calling for another march on Friday and the formation of a “new popular movement” that will include opposition parties but be dominated by civil activists.

“We will formulate our demands to the administration, and if it fails to meet them, the force of nonviolent resistance will sweep away all those who are attempting to derail Georgia’s European course,” he stated.

“Popular rage will be aimed on (governing party founder) oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili,” who, while having no official political role in Georgia, is widely believed to be in charge.

‘A European point of view’

“Every Georgian must assume personal responsibility so that our European hope comes true,” said Malkhaz Kharbedia, a 47-year-old writer.

“We’ve walked to the streets today because the moment has come for us to rely solely on ourselves, not on anyone else,” he told AFP. “The time has come for our personal responsibility, effort, unwavering resolve, and tenacity.”

“Denying Georgia the designation of an EU (membership) candidate will mean we are left in Russia’s sphere of control,” said another demonstrator, biologist Lili Nemsadze, 68.

“Putin will see this as a green signal to invade Georgia again,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin has long been enraged by Georgia’s bid for EU and NATO membership, which is written in the country’s constitution, and tensions culminated in Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008.

The European Commission suggested that Kyiv and Chisinau be granted candidate status by the European Council on Friday, but stated that it would “come back (by the end of 2022) and review how Georgia satisfies the number of conditions before granting its candidate status.”

The Commission also proposed that Georgia be granted “the European perspective,” which its president, Ursula von der Leyen, described as a “major step ahead” in Georgia’s path to membership.

“The door is wide open,” she added, adding, “and the sooner you provide, the sooner progress will be made.”

The EU chief stated on Monday that Georgia must complete additional changes before joining the bloc.