Thousands of protesters filled Rustaveli Avenue on the anniversary of the start of pro-European protests.

Protesters in Tbilisi held two mass marches and, for the first time in three weeks, blocked Rustaveli Avenue near the parliament, demanding the release of political prisoners and the departure of the Georgian Dream party. On the anniversary of the start of the ongoing protests, supporters of Georgia's European integration also took to the streets in other cities across the country.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," over the past week, police have repeatedly detained participants in daily protest marches in Tbilisi. On November 26 and 27, protesters gathered for evening rallies near the parliament building, but did not hold marches, preparing for a large-scale rally on the anniversary of Georgian Dream's rejection of European integration.

Georgian citizens, who gathered today outside the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue, marked a year of continuous protests with two marches through Tbilisi and a mass rally. On the 366th day of pro-European demonstrations, Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, also attended the rally.

A police cordon was set up on Rustaveli Avenue this evening. Two protest marches toward the parliament building began simultaneously from the old Public Broadcaster building and from Tbilisi State University. Demonstrators, carrying Georgian and EU flags, held various placards, reiterating their unwavering demands. Near the Philharmonic, the participants of the two marches united and continued their march to the site of daily protests near the parliament, Interpressnews reports.

Thousands of demonstrators arrived at the parliament carrying banners, flags, and posters. At the head of the column, protesters carried banners reading "One year of continuous resistance" and "Freedom for political prisoners." In addition to the flags of Georgia and the EU, they carried flags of Ukraine, Germany, and the United States, JAMnews reports.

During the march, demonstrators blocked traffic on Melikishvili Avenue, but police from a patrol car urged citizens to leave the roadway, despite the thousands of people participating in the protest. When they reached Rustaveli Avenue, traffic was blocked there as well, Tbilisi_life reports.

In November and December 2024, security forces violently dispersed protests, using tear gas and water cannons. Over a thousand people were subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report, "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia".