TBILISI, August 12 – Georgia’s upcoming local elections, scheduled for October 4, are shaping up to be a contest between the ruling Georgian Dream party and a fragmented opposition. Seventeen parties are registered to compete, though analysts are divided on whether the vote will be truly competitive, according to Rezonansi. Supporters of the government point … Read more
TBILISI, August 1 – Opposition forces in Georgia are weighing whether to nominate Aleko Elisashvili for mayor — a former urban heritage activist who has pledged to eliminate the capital’s notorious traffic congestion “within a year.” Elisashvili, a long-time critic of the government and advocate for better urban planning, says he would accept the nomination … Read more
TBILISI, July 31 – Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, has officially nominated incumbent mayor Kakha Kaladze for a third term in the upcoming municipal elections. The announcement was made during a high-profile campaign launch event in Mtatsminda Park in the capital attended by senior party leaders including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Georgian Dream (GD) … Read more
TBILISI, July 30 – In a speech in Geneva, Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili claimed excessive foreign interference has harmed the development of Georgia’s democracy, calling instead for international actors to respect national sovereignty. In a speech at the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, the speaker claimed that some foreign-funded NGOs in … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A political analyst claims the a “criminal operation” is unfolding within Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, aimed at reclaiming assets allegedly obtained through corruption by former and current officials. According to Gia Khukhashvili, the effort is being driven by GD founder and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who, he claims, has faced recent … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Giorgi Vashadze, a former UNM-era official and current opposition figure who is in pre-trial detention, has issued a renewed appeal for unity among Georgia’s pro-Western political parties and activist groups. Writing from prison, Vashadze proposed forming a joint “unified resistance center” ahead of the country’s upcoming local elections on October 4. His message was … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A new opinion poll suggests that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party remains the largest political force in the country. According to the poll, which was carried out by GORBI for Georgian broadcaster Imedi, 56.2% of likely voters would support GD if elections were held this week. The results show a fragmented opposition landscape, … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–A opposition politician in Georgia has promised large cash rewards to law enforcement officers who refuse to use force against protesters in case there is unrest in connection with the October 4 local elections. Levan Khabeishvili, former chairman of the United National Movement (UNM), called on security forces to “put down their weapons” and … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Kavelashvili from Georgian Dream (GD) offers to pardons jailed opposition leaders, under the condition that they agree to participate in the upcoming local elections. He framed the offer as a constitutional initiative aimed at supporting democratic participation. But the offer sparked mixed reactions, especially among opposition groups who see the move more … Read more
TBILISI, DFWatch–Jailed opposition figure Giorgi Vashadze has proposed a new political initiative aimed at unifying key opposition parties ahead of parliamentary elections. The plan involves the creation of a joint political platform headed by ex-President Salome Zourabichvili, joining together the “Resistance Platform” and eight parties currently boycotting the municipal elections. “This is not just a … Read more