Wednesday, August 13, 2025
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Three opposition figures in prison as Georgia gets ready for local elections

TBILISI, DFWatch–Three oppsition figures are currently in pre-trial detention, raising concerns about the political situation ahead of the local elections scheduled for October 4. The three jailed opposition politicians are Zurab Japaridze, Nika Melia, and Nika Gvaramia. All three are from the opposition coalition “For Change” – one of four election alliances that took part … Read more

Three opposition parties unite to oust Georgian Dream, get EU candidate status

Three opposition political parties in Georgia – Strategy Agmashenebeli, Girchi – More Freedom and Droa – establish “a pro-European coalition”, the goal of which is to oust Georgian Dream and solicit getting the EU candidate status by the country. “There is no other way, and our western partners are waiting for it, but first of … Read more

Libertarian group rallies in Tbilisi, demands swift re-opening of gyms

A couple dozen people, mostly gym employees and libertarian opposition party Girchi members, rallied in front of Georgian government in Tbilisi Tuesday demanding re-opening gyms. Protesters say they don’t understand why they are forbidden to exercise and expect explanation from government. “This ban damages people’s health more than the virus could have done,” Girchi member … Read more

Georgia's ruling party vows to fill 'legal vacuum' after Constitutional Court abolished punishment for cannabis use

One of the plaintiffs, Zurab Japaridze, at the marijuana planting event on New Year’s Eve 2017. (Pirveli TV.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The ruling GD party in Georgia rejects a decision by the Constitutional Court to abolish punishment for marijuana use, arguing that the ruling creates a ‘legal vacuum’ that the government pledges to fill.

The Constitutional Court on Monday

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'Come get us' – Libertarians invite police action after NYE weed planting

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Zurab Japaridze from the libertarian Girchi party. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Leaders of a small libertarian party in the former Soviet republic Georgia ask authorities to hold them to account after a marijuana planting stunt four days ago meant to force a softening of the country’s drug policy.

So far, the activists have not

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Georgian opposition party plants marijuana on New Year’s Eve

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(Pirveli TV.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The leader of an opposition party in the former Soviet republic Georgia made a small marijuana plantation inside the party office on New Year’s Eve as part of a campaign to decriminalize soft drugs.

Zurab Japaridze, leader of a newly formed party called

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Former UNM members join New Rightists in bloc called 'New Choice'

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Zurab Japaridze. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Two political parties formed by ex-National Movement members together with an opposition party without representatives in parliament on Friday launched a new election bloc for the upcoming parliamentary election.

The name of the new

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Saakashvili allies left party to save Georgia from 'pro-Russian forces'

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Zurab Japaridze. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Four former members of the National Movement say they left the party to save the country from ‘pro-Russian forces’ which may come to power in the 2016 parliamentary election.

Zurab Japaridze, Goga Khachidze, Pavle Kublashvili and Giorgi Meladze

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Saakashvili party boycotts parliament after ex-official's suicide attempt

Zurab Japaridze
Zurab Japaridze. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Members of Mikheil Saakashvili’s party deliberately disrupted Friday’s parliamentary session because of a former official’s suicide attempt the day before.

The former special unit’s representative who attempted to commit suicide is detained

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