In response to “Georgian Dream’s” decision to “suspend” EU integration, more than 1000 active businesses in Georgia are joining the ongoing protest through a platform initiated by businessman Giorgi Chugoshvili – www.freebusiness.ge. Business representatives quickly joined the initiative, and within 24 hours of its launch on December 15, nearly 300 businesses had joined (Update as of December 22: 2022 companies have joined by December 22).
The supporters of the initiative have two main demands:
1. Calling new, free, and fair elections
2. Release of detained protest participants before the New Year
The statement distributed by the platform reads:
“The current crisis has exceeded the boundaries of party politics and poses an inevitable social and economic threat to the country. Immediate de-escalation of the situation is necessary. The most pragmatic path to de-escalation is calling new elections and releasing people imprisoned during recent processes before the New Year. We, representatives of Georgian business, being responsible for the country’s fate and its irreversible development, regardless of our political preferences, sign this appeal and statement.”
As of December 18, on the third day since the initiative’s presentation, 1073 businesses have joined, with additional 845 applications being processed (Update: as of December 22, 2202 businesses have joined and 663 have applied to join, waiting for verification). Notably, each company undergoes specific verification to confirm that the statement truly expresses their responsibility and desire.
The initiative is being joined by both medium and small businesses, as well as the country’s largest business companies, whose contribution to the state budget in taxes amounts to millions of lari – including one of the country’s largest telecom operators – Magticom, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, PSP Pharma, Georgia’s leading financial institutions – such as Bank of Georgia and many others.
Companies are also responding to the initiative on their own social networks. Bank of Georgia’s Facebook page reads:
“For Bank of Georgia, whose name carries special weight, there is no alternative to the country’s path toward European integration. On the path to Europe – don’t stop!”
Among hundreds of signatories is also PMC Research Center, which posts:
“This decision significantly damages Georgia’s positions both politically and economically and puts the country at risk of isolation.” They also call on the government to “fully understand its responsibility for ongoing political processes, stop violence against protesters, cease intolerance of differing opinions, and ensure the protection of democratic principles through all possible mechanisms.”
Information about the initiative will be updated on December 19, at 13:00: www.freebusiness.ge
During the same period, media reported that no company participated in the tender announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The tender’s purpose was indicated as “providing lunch packages for Ministry of Internal Affairs employees involved in protecting public safety and order in light of the events developing in Tbilisi in December 2024.” Due to this failure, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is requesting to purchase lunch packages without tender, through direct procurement. Regarding the same events, the Amnesty International reported about violent dispersal of peaceful protests in Tbilisi.
Notably, nearly 3500 public servants are also protesting the halt of EU integration.
