Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg organised a pro-democracy rally in Tbilisi on Monday to denounce "authoritarianism" in Georgia and Azerbaijan.
The demonstration coincided with the opening of the 29th annual UN Climate Conference, COP29, in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku.
Thunberg led several dozen demonstrators who gathered in Freedom Square in the centre of the Georgian capital for what she called a rally "against the wave of authoritarianism and exploitation sweeping across the Caucasus." The demonstrators held up placards reading ‘Free 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijan’ and ‘Democracy for Georgia.'
The Swedish activist travelled to Tbilisi to join the anti-government demonstrations there.
In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Georgia to protest against alleged fraud in elections on 26 October, won by the pro-Russian ruling party Georgian Dream.
Georgian Dream claims the vote was free and fair, but its detractors accuse it of having diverted Georgia from its path towards Europe and of having brought Tbilisi back into Moscow's orbit.
Ms. Thunberg went on to accuse the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and Iran of tightening control, stifling dissent and oppressing their own people.
She criticised the West for "turning a blind eye to oppression in exchange for resources," saying "Western powers are complicit in the repression and suffering faced by the peoples of the Caucasus."
Azerbaijan, using COP29 as a front, is strengthening its control under a greening agenda, tightening its grip on power and escalating regional tensions, the activist said on social network X.
International rights groups have denounced the crackdown on civil society activists by the government of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ahead of COP29.
The European Parliament has also criticised Azerbaijan's repression of its opponents and declared that ongoing human rights violations are incompatible with hosting the COP.
Delegates from nearly 200 countries have gathered for the two-week forum in Baku, where negotiators are expected to raise the target of $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries.
