TBILISI, January 21 – A Tbilisi city court on Wednesday ruled to keep 13 people in pretrial detention over their alleged role in unrest near the Atoneli Palace on October 4. The court reviewed the preventive measures imposed on the defendants and examined video evidence during the hearing. Prosecutors asked the court to keep all … Read more
TBILISI, January 20 – Georgia’s president Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned 159 convicted people late Monday as a gesture of clemency in connection with the Orthodox Epiphany celebration. But hours later, there was confusion among families and supporters over who, exactly, made the list. Kavelashvili’s press service announced at 10:33 p.m. on Monday that the president had … Read more
TBILISI, December 18 – Protests resumed Wednesday evening on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi, despite verbal warnings by police the day before to adhere to new, stricter rules for public assemblies. The rally marked the 385th consecutive day of protest near parliament, with demonstrators again demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of people detained … Read more
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 14 – German ambassador Peter Fischer on Thursday joined an anti-government protest in Tbilisi, drawing sharp criticism from Georgia’s ruling party, which accused Fischer of breaching diplomatic protocol and insulting the country’s institutions. Fischer, who had only recently returned to Georgia following consultations in Berlin, was seen mingling with protesters on Rustaveli Avenue, … Read more
TBILISI, November 13 – As Georgia’s ruling party insists that no genuine protest movement exists in the country, claiming only small foreign-funded groups gather on Rustaveli Avenue each evening, analysts and opposition figures are debating whether the public mood could soon shift toward wider unrest. Over a year has passed sine a disputed election triggered … 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
The country’s opposition parties are repeating strategic mistakes that have allowed the ruling Georgian Dream party to entrench its rule, according to Nino Lomjaria, executive director of the non-governmental group Georgia’s European Orbit and former public defender (ombudswoman). Outlining her criticism in a social media post on Saturday, Lomjaria said opposition groups have failed to … 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