Celebration or resistance: What May 26 looked like in Georgia

Every year on May 26, Georgia celebrates its Independence Day—the day in 1918 when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Democratic Republic of Georgia was founded—in the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution. However, that first republic lasted less than three years: in 1921, the Red Army invaded, and the country was incorporated into the Soviet Union.

This year, the holiday followed its usual choreography—a military parade, cultural events, street markets, and concerts. However, for the second year in a row, these celebrations were overshadowed by protests against the incumbent government. Their demands included new elections and the release of political prisoners—the so-called "prisoners of the regime."

Both the government and the opposition each had their own program – with fundamentally different messages.

The government's official celebration focused entirely on entertainment: children's choirs, creative and educational activities for the youngest, exhibitions and sales of Georgian wines, wine tastings, and musical performances – all in Tbilisi and 20 other cities. As usual, the centerpiece of the spectacle was the military parade, during which 700 conscripts took their oath of service to the defense forces. Further such ceremonies took place at five historically significant sites in Georgia.

The program of the protest platform "Protest 24" was completely different. They saw May 26 as the day to reclaim the narrative of independence. Protest marches took place throughout the day – by trade unions, public broadcaster, and civil society groups. There were public discussions on the First Republic of Georgia, the role of universities in state building, and the current threats to the Georgian education system. Other topics included electoral fraud, EU cultural heritage, Count Schulenburg, and the first Georgian republic. The Sartuli organization collected letters and gifts for political prisoners. The event concluded with a speech by President Salome Zurabishvili in front of the parliament on Rustaveli Street, followed by a screening of the documentary "To Save the Independence."

For many people, this day took on a deeper meaning.

Lado Apkhazava, a teacher and civil society activist, described May 26 as the most important date in Georgian history , which has now become a day of struggle for freedom: "Merab Kostava once said: If the Georgian people stop fighting after gaining independence, they will lose it. This day reminds us never to stop. History shows: Georgians have always had to fight for their freedom. That's why today is also a day of resistance."

He added: "The government is offering people entertainment to make them feel like everything is fine. But Georgia is divided—one part is celebrating, the other is fighting. And victory will belong to those who fight."

Amiran Jimsherashvili, a fourth-year student at the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University and active in the student protest, echoed this sentiment: "May 26 is the day a small nation with a great history demonstrated that it can be independent and govern itself."

"We can't celebrate while our peers are unjustly imprisoned. At the same time, we wanted to take the opportunity to share our perspective with the people gathered today to celebrate independence. We also wanted to introduce our Students for You platform—many were previously unfamiliar with it."

Zura Tsetskhladze, the father of 19-year-old political prisoner Zviad Tsetskhladze, summed it up: "Today, May 26, is being celebrated under a Russian regime that is leading Georgia away from Europe at the very moment when EU accession was within reach. In such a situation, where we are once again in danger of losing our independence, the struggle is more important than the celebration."

He concluded with a call: "Tomorrow, a protest will take place in front of the office of the ruling Georgian Dream party, organized by Ertoba – a movement that unites the resistance from civil society and protest groups. There we will announce the next steps in the fight against the Russian regime."

At the end of the day—between the stage lights and the street chants—the divide remained visible. One side celebrated independence as a complete achievement, the other viewed it as a still-unfinished project. May 26 reminds some how far Georgia has come—and others how far it still has to go.

But the central question remains unanswered: Who decides today what May 26th means?