Between the unacknowledged pandemic and economic devastation, protestors said the situation at home is so dire that inaction seems worse than government reprisals.
The territory's public health officials have warned against opening up to tourism, and the arrival of tourists has coincided with a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.
If Georgian Dream wins a third consecutive term as Georgia’s governing party – a feat no party has achieved before – it will largely have COVID-19 to thank.
Georgia was one of a select few countries to be approved for travel to the EU in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. But the Georgian authorities are taking a pass.