Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Street fight outside ruling party HQ leaves dozens injured in Tbilisi

TBILISI, September 9 – A protest outside the campaign headquarters of ruling party candidate Kakha Kaladze erupted into violence last night, leaving at least 10 people injured. The clash broke out on Melikishvili Avenue in Tbilisi, where demonstrators gathered to denounce the Georgian Dream (GD) government. Protesters claim they were attacked by GD supporters, including … Read more

GD reverses course on election watchdogs

TBILISI, September 8 – Georgia’s ruling party has made a sharp U-turn just weeks before crucial local elections, announcing that it will invite international observers from the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to monitor the October 4 vote. The decision, confirmed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday evening, comes after … Read more

Prosecutors appeal activist doctor’s acquittal

TBILISI, September 6 – Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office has appealed a court ruling that cleared doctor Giorgi Akhobadze of drug trafficking charges. Akhobadze was acquitted on August 6 and walked free after a Tbilisi City Court judge found him not guilty of possessing large amounts of illegal substances. Akhobadze was controversially arrested in December 2024 after … Read more

One more ‘politicized’ criminal trial ends in acquittal

TBILISI, September 4 – A Tbilisi court has acquitted journalist Nika Katsia, who was accused of possessing a large quantity of cocaine, in a verdict welcomed by human rights defenders but immediately appealed by prosecutors. The Public Defender of Georgia praised the ruling, saying it underscored the need for police to provide neutral evidence—such as … Read more

23 detained outside parliament as report on UNM regime discussed

TBILISI, September 2 – Police detained 23 protesters on Rustaveli Avenue Tuesday during demonstrations against a new parliamentary report on government crimes under Saakashvili (2004-2012). The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that all detainees were taken in on administrative charges. It urged participants to “stop attempts to gather on the roadway,” after several groups tried … Read more

New report accuses Saakashvili government of systemic torture and abuse

TBILISI, September 2 – Georgia’s parliament has released the findings of a temporary investigative commission led by Vice Speaker Tea Tsulukiani, scrutinizing the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili (2004–2012). The 460-page report paints a grim picture, alleging systemic torture, unlawful imprisonment, and widespread violations of human rights under a “zero tolerance” crime policy. According to Tsulukiani, … Read more

Will Gakharia be the October Surprise?

TBILISI, September 1 – Former Georgian prime minister Giorgi Gakharia has been outside the country for more than two months, and on August 30 local media reported that he has received residency in Germany. His party, For Georgia, which is running a joint candidate with Lelo for Tbilisi mayor, did not confirm the claim but … Read more

Tbilisi bracing for unrest as EU deadline expires

TBILISI, August 30 – Authorities in Tbilisi are preparing for tense weeks ahead as a deadline set by Brussels expires tomorrow. The European Commission has given the Georgian Dream (GD) government eight demands to meet by August 31. Two are seen as non-negotiable by both sides: repealing a ban on so-called “LGBT propaganda” and scrapping … Read more

Tbilisi accused of crackdown over ‘sabotage’ case

TBILISI, August 28 – Georgia is facing international criticism after a Tbilisi court froze the bank accounts of seven major civil society groups, citing an ongoing investigation into alleged “sabotage” and material support for violent unrest. Prosecutors say the NGOs helped fund protective gear and supplies for demonstrators during last year’s clashes outside parliament, framing … Read more

Did donor money fuel Tbilisi protests?

TBILISI, August 27 – It caused an outcry on Wednesday when authorities froze bank accounts belonging to seven organizations after prosecutors accused them of channeling donor funds toward violent protest activities. The groups themselves denounced the charges as baseless and politically motivated. The court decision was made under the new ‘foreign agents‘ law, which came … Read more