TBILISI, October 15 – Georgia’s parliament opened debate Wednesday on a government-backed bill that would sharply increase penalties for unauthorized protests, introducing the harshest restrictions on street demonstrations in years. The proposal is part of a set of three legislative packages now being reviewed under an accelerated procedure. Under the new draft, people taking part … Read more
TBILISI, October 14 – Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday defended the government’s controversial new legislation aimed at curbing unapproved street protests and warned against what he called “radical” opposition forces. Kobakhidze said the government is finalizing a constitutional lawsuit that will target political parties he accused of “destructive” activity. “Our country needs calm … Read more
TBILISI, October 13 – Several thousand people rallied in the Georgian capital Sunday evening under the slogan “You can’t cage Georgia,” demanding new elections and the release of dozens detainees in the wake of the violence on October 4. The rally began in Vake Park and moved toward the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue, where … Read more
TBILISI, October 11 – Tbilisi City Court has spent the week holding tense hearings that ended Friday with doctors rallying in downtown Tbilisi, as international criticism mounts over the aftermath of the October 4 unrest. On Friday, Georgia’s capital saw two marathon court sessions, with judges sending another dozen defendants into pre-trial detention over the … Read more
TBILISI, October 6 – Prosecutors in Georgia have formally charged five opposition figures over their alleged role in organizing the October 4 protest in Tbilisi that authorities describe as an attempt to violently overthrow the government. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the charges were presented Monday morning to opera singer and civic activist Paata Burchuladze, … Read more
TBILISI, October 6 – Georgia’s government has arrested all key organizers behind the October 4 protest in Tbilisi, which authorities describe as an “attempted coup” that turned violent near the presidential palace. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze vowed that “no one will go unpunished,” warning that anyone who took part in violence against the state or … Read more
TBILISI, October 2 – Shortly before the municipal election, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has unveiled plans to build what he described as a “grand amusement park” on the grounds of the city’s dendrological park by Tbilisi Sea, the large reservoir on the capital’s outskirts. Kaladze said the project would be unprecedented in Georgia and across … Read more
TBILISI, October 2 – Georgia’s government spending is set to increase sharply next year, with the draft 2026 budget projecting expenditures of 30.47 billion lari (about USD 11.3 billion). That is 2.53 billion lari more than the planned 2025 budget of 27.94 billion lari. According to the Finance Ministry, the proposed budget is made up … Read more
TBILISI, September 27 – Georgia’s ruling party Georgian Dream has announced it will ask the country’s Constitutional Court to outlaw the opposition United National Movement (UNM), the party founded by former president Mikheil Saakashvili. The move follows the conclusion of a six-month inquiry by a parliamentary investigative commission led by Vice Speaker Tea Tsulukiani. She … Read more
TBILISI, September 25 – Kakha Kaladze, the ruling Georgian Dream party’s candidate for Tbilisi mayor, told voters in Saburtalo that Georgia’s independence was won “with blood and struggle” and must still be defended every day. Speaking under the campaign slogan “Peace for Georgia, more good for Tbilisi,” Kaladze argued that his party has kept the … Read more