TBILISI, November 21 – With one week to go before Georgia’s opposition stages a major rally on November 28, political groups, civil society figures and imprisoned activists are laying out their expectations for the next chapter in the country’s turbulent politics. The date November 28 was chosen, because on that day last year, Prime Minister … Read more
TBILISI, November 20 – Anti-government demonstrators again gathered on Rustaveli Avenue Thursday night demanding snap parliamentary elections and the release of people detained during previous rallies. Police deployed cordons around the legislature to prevent protesters from blocking the capital’s main traffic artery, a tactic that has led to repeated confrontations in recent months. With Rustaveli … Read more
TBILISI, November 17 – Protesters in Tbilisi have shifted tactics after weeks of standoffs with police on Rustaveli Avenue, moving their demonstrations off the roadway and into long evening marches along downtown sidewalks. The change follows days of pressure from police, who repeatedly blocked attempts to obstruct traffic and warned participants that repeat offences could … Read more
TBILISI, November 9 – Anti-government protesters returned to Georgia’s parliament building late Sunday following a march through central Tbilisi that saw brief confrontations with police over access to the main avenue. Demonstrators, many chanting “No to Russia,” “Georgia, rise up,” and “Freedom for political prisoners,” demanded new parliamentary elections and the release of people detained … Read more
TBILISI, November 8 – Protesters gathered outside Georgia’s parliament Friday for another night of anti-government demonstrations, over a year since the disputed parliamentary elections. Police blocked both sides of Rustaveli Avenue, forming tight cordons to prevent marchers from spilling onto the main road. Chanting “Down with the Russian regime” and “Slaves, slaves,” demonstrators circled the … Read more
TBILISI, November 6 – Protesters again gathered in central Tbilisi on Thursday evening, marching between parliament and the government building amid heavy police presence. Demonstrators demanded new elections and the release of detainees but were prevented from blocking Rustaveli Avenue and nearby streets by the intervention of law enforcement. Police detained one participant after protesters … Read more
TBILISI, November 4 – Tbilisi-based watchdog Transparency International Georgia (TIG) has sharply condemned the ruling Georgian Dream party’s latest amendments to Georgia’s protest laws, calling them “repressive” and a de facto abolition of citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of assembly. The group says the legal changes, adopted over the past two years, amount to a … Read more
TBILISI, October 30 – Police in Tbilisi detained several protesters Thursday night after demonstrators blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue during ongoing anti-government rallies demanding new elections. The protest began around 8pm, when demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building where a protest camp has been standing for months. After rallying on the sidewalk, some … Read more
TBILISI, October 28 – The head of Tbilisi’s Police Department, Lasha Jokhadze, has stepped down from his post, Georgia’s Interior Ministry confirmed on Tuesday. A spokesperson told local media outlet Interpressnews that Jokhadze’s resignation was made “on his own initiative,” without providing further details. Jokhadze had led the capital’s patrol police since 2020. The last … Read more
TBILISI, October 26 – Georgian police have detained 60 protesters over the past three days for violating rules on public assembly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Sunday, as tensions continued around ongoing demonstrations outside parliament in central Tbilisi. According to the ministry, those arrested face administrative penalties under Georgia’s Code of Administrative Offenses … Read more