RSS Parrot

Sevastopol Resident Denied Entry to Georgia After Claiming Ukrainian City Is ‘Part of Russia’

https://civil.ge/archives/706421

Published: October 14, 2025 15:25

A resident of the Russia-annexed Ukrainian city of Sevastopol, identified only as Ramil, and his friend Denis have been denied entry to Georgia, the Sevastopol-based pro-Russian outlet ForPost reported on October 13. ForPost cited Ramil as saying that the…

CSOs: Georgian Dream Toughening Laws to ‘Ban Peaceful Protest’

https://civil.ge/archives/706395

Published: October 14, 2025 12:50

Around 30 Georgian civil society organizations have denounced the ruling Georgian Dream party’s latest legislative proposal to toughen penalties for protest-related offenses as an “attempt to ban peaceful protest” and “another step toward dismantling…

ECtHR Orders Russia to Pay Georgia 253 Million Euros Over Post-2008 War Rights Violations

https://civil.ge/archives/706390

Published: October 14, 2025 10:09

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ordered Russia to pay Georgia more than 253 million euros in compensation for thousands of victims of human rights violations stemming from the tightening of administrative boundary lines after the 2008 war.…

Kavelashvili Grants 70 Pardons

https://civil.ge/archives/706376

Published: October 14, 2025 07:15

Georgian Dream–elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili has granted 70 pardons on the occasion of Svetitskhovloba, October 14, a national and religious holiday dedicated to the town of Mtskheta and its historic cathedral. According to Mikheil Kavelashvili’s…

Authorities Probe ‘Sabotage’ After Pro-Ruling Party Imedi Channel Goes Off Air

https://civil.ge/archives/706353

Published: October 13, 2025 19:32

Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG) announced it has launched an investigation into an alleged “sabotage” following a request from the pro-Georgian Dream channel Imedi TV, which said it went off air for 45 minutes, suspecting a “criminal act.” “The…

Ruling Party Announces Further Crackdown on Protests, Opposition

https://civil.ge/archives/706340

Published: October 13, 2025 18:38

The ruling Georgian Dream party announced on October 13 a new wave of crackdowns on ongoing protests and opposition groups, including criminal sentences for protest-related offences and harsh restrictions on members of parties it is seeking to outlaw…

Kobakhidze, Chinese Ambassador Hold Second Meeting in Three Weeks

https://civil.ge/archives/706325

Published: October 13, 2025 13:49

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Chinese Ambassador Zhou Qian, marking their fifth meeting since December 2024 and the second in the past three weeks. The latest meeting with the Chinese diplomat was reported by the Georgian Dream…

Kobakhidze Meets Belarusian Ambassador

https://civil.ge/archives/706268

Published: October 13, 2025 11:58

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with the Belarusian Ambassador to Georgia, Nikolai Rogashchuk, the government administration reported on October 13. According to a press release from the administration, “the introductory meeting focused…

SSSG Arrests Three Georgians on Terrorism Charges Linked to Islamic State

https://civil.ge/archives/706263

Published: October 13, 2025 11:27

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has arrested three Georgian citizens in the country’s western Adjara region on terrorism-related charges linked to the Islamic State group, Deputy Head of the agency Lasha Maghradze announced at a briefing on…

Monday Cable – October 13, 2025

https://civil.ge/archives/706168

Published: October 13, 2025 01:00

Dear readers, good Monday morning as we come back from a rather dark week of October 4 aftershocks, with dozens arrested and the future still uncertain. Below, we discuss the past week, the weekend developments, and what to expect this week, which is also…

Dispatch – October 12: Mist

https://civil.ge/archives/706143

Published: October 12, 2025 17:55

“Limbo” is perhaps the word that the media loves more than Dante Alighieri ever did. But on October 4, for journalists who found themselves near the Orbeliani Presidential Palace in Tbilisi, the metaphorical word turned very physical. After only a few…

44 Sent to Pre-Trial Detention Over October 4 Events, 2 Granted Bail

https://civil.ge/archives/706057

Published: October 11, 2025 12:05

Courts sent 44 out of 46 persons arrested in connection with the October 4 election-day unrest to pre-trial detention, while the remaining two were granted bail, one of whom has already left custody. As of October 11, prosecutors have charged a total of 48…

Ex-UNM Minister Akhalaia Summoned for Questioning Over October 4 Events

https://civil.ge/archives/706060

Published: October 10, 2025 12:52

The Georgian Interior Ministry summoned Bacho Akhalaia, who served as interior and defense minister under the United National Movement government (2003-2012), for questioning and to provide a voice sample in connection with the October 4 election-related…

Number of Detainees Over October 4 Unrest Reaches 35

https://civil.ge/archives/705686

Published: October 8, 2025 19:17

The number of those arrested over alleged involvement in the October 4 election-day unrest has reached 35, after the Interior Ministry announced the detention of 12 more persons during another late-night briefing on October 8. “The evidence obtained as…

ECtHR Finds Russia in Violation for Failing to Investigate Dutch Journalist’s Death in 2008 War

https://civil.ge/archives/705641

Published: October 8, 2025 14:48

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Russia violated the procedural aspect of Article 2 of the Convention (the right to life) by taking “no meaningful steps” to clarify the circumstances of the death of Dutch photojournalist Stan…

Kobakhidze Accuses West of ‘Indirectly’ Backing ‘Overthrow and Violence’ After October 4 Unrest

https://civil.ge/archives/705565

Published: October 8, 2025 12:53

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has slammed the country’s Western partners, including the United States, the European Union, and their member states, for “not condemning” the October 4 election-day unrest in Tbilisi, saying that by failing…

U.S. Confirms Requesting Meeting With Georgian Ambassador After Kobakhidze Denies Summoning

https://civil.ge/archives/705542

Published: October 8, 2025 08:11

The U.S. State Department has confirmed it “requested to meet” with Georgian Ambassador Tamar Taliashvili after Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed reports that she had been summoned as “a lie.” “The U.S. State Department requested to…

Former Gldani Prison Chief Found Dead

https://civil.ge/archives/705538

Published: October 8, 2025 07:33

Davit Gogoberishvili, the former chief of the Gldani No. 8 penitentiary facility in Tbilisi, has been found dead, the Interior Ministry of Georgia confirmed to Civil.ge on October 8, following initial media reports, adding that an investigation has been…

Police Arrest Five More Over October 4 Events, Bringing Total to 23

https://civil.ge/archives/705508

Published: October 7, 2025 19:56

Four more people have been arrested in connection with the October 4 election-day unrest in downtown Tbilisi, Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze announced at a late-night briefing on October 7, adding that a search was underway for three…

EU Parliament Backs Easier Suspension of Visa-Free Travel Amid Concerns Over Georgia

https://civil.ge/archives/705446

Published: October 7, 2025 14:32

The European Parliament has backed legislation making it easier for the EU to suspend visa-free travel for countries posing security risks or breaching human rights. While the reform applies to 61 countries whose citizens can currently travel visa-free to…

National Bank Says Georgia’s International Reserves Exceed $5.4 Billion by September

https://civil.ge/archives/705388

Published: October 7, 2025 13:05

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) said the country’s international reserves increased by USD 224 million in September and exceeded USD 5.4 billion. According to the NBG, the last foreign exchange purchase was made in August for USD 199.6 million. Before…

Court Sends Five Organizers of October 4 Rally to Pretrial Detention

https://civil.ge/archives/705308

Published: October 7, 2025 11:59

Tbilisi City Court Judge Lela Maridashvili has ordered pretrial detention for five organizers of the October 4 rally in Georgia’s capital, including opera singer Paata Burchuladze, opposition United National Movement (UNM) members Murtaz Zodelava and…

GD Says Expelling Ambassadors ‘Counterproductive’ as MFA Briefs Diplomats

https://civil.ge/archives/705370

Published: October 7, 2025 11:32

Georgian Dream said that expelling ambassadors from the country would be “counterproductive” despite “public demand,” while accusing them of meddling and acting under the influence of the “deep state” during an October 7 briefing held in parallel with a…

Kobakhidze Offers Reset With West, Threatens to End Rustaveli Protests

https://civil.ge/archives/705364

Published: October 7, 2025 09:12

In a wide-ranging interview with pro-government Rustavi 2 on October 6, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the European Union of supporting attempts to overthrow the GD government, while calling for a reset of relations with the bloc.…

Police Arrest 13 People Over October 4 Events, Vowing to Detain More

https://civil.ge/archives/705331

Published: October 6, 2025 19:40

Thirteen people have been arrested for their involvement in the October 4 election-day unrest at the presidential palace in Tbilisi, the Georgian Interior Ministry announced late on October 6, adding that a search is underway for two other individuals as…

Anti-Corruption Bureau Targets Two Political Platforms Amid Wider Crackdown

https://civil.ge/archives/705263

Published: October 6, 2025 13:40

The Anti-Corruption Bureau, a state agency, has targeted two political platforms – Freedom Square and the Movement for Social Democracy – following earlier actions against civil society organizations, media outlets, and individual activists under various…

Russia Feels its Worldview Vindicated by Tbilisi Events

https://civil.ge/archives/705289

Published: October 6, 2025 13:36

The local elections in Georgia on October 4, 2025, and the subsequent events triggered a flurry of commentary from Russian political and expert circles. Tensions flared in Tbilisi on the day of the partially boycotted October 4 local elections when,…

Georgian Dream Leaders Congratulate Czech Populist Andrej Babis on Election Win

https://civil.ge/archives/705247

Published: October 6, 2025 11:11

Georgian Dream leaders, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and President Mikheil Kavelashvili, have congratulated billionaire populist leader and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on his victory in the Czech parliamentary elections held on…

International Reactions to October 4 Elections

https://civil.ge/archives/705199

Published: October 6, 2025 07:25

Georgia held local elections on October 4, with the ruling Georgian Dream party securing a sweeping victory in both the proportional and mayoral races across all 64 municipalities, according to the official results from the Central Election Commission. The…

EU’s Kallas, Kos Comment on Georgia’s Local Vote, Speak of ‘Extensive Crackdown on Dissent’

https://civil.ge/archives/705170

Published: October 5, 2025 16:56

EU’s HR/VP Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos have commented on Georgia’s October 4 local elections, which they said came “amid a period of extensive crackdown on dissent,” urging “calm and restraint” after the vote and calling for the…

SSSG Says Arms Cache Found, Links to October 4 Unrest, Ukraine

https://civil.ge/archives/705134

Published: October 5, 2025 15:44

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced on October 5 that it had traced “large quantities” of firearms, ammunition, and explosives with a detonator, alleging they were intended for “subversive acts” during the October 4 unrest in Tbilisi and…

MIA Hints More Arrests Over October 4 Unrest, Warns to Treat Upcoming Rallies as ‘Continuation’

https://civil.ge/archives/705052

Published: October 5, 2025 12:32

Georgia’s Interior Ministry hinted at more arrests in connection with the October 4 unrest in Tbilisi, warning to treat upcoming rallies as a “continuation” of “yesterday’s attempt” and fueling concerns that authorities may use the unrest as a pretext to…

CEC Results: GD Claims Sweeping Victory in All Municipalities in Partially Boycotted Race

https://civil.ge/archives/704962

Published: October 5, 2025 12:08

According to preliminary official results from the Central Election Commission, with all 3,061 precincts counted nationwide, Georgian Dream has secured a sweeping victory in both proportional and mayoral races across all 64 municipalities in the October 4…

Sokhumi Detains Georgian National in Gali on ‘Espionage’ Charges

https://civil.ge/archives/704472

Published: October 5, 2025 10:59

Abkhazia’s de facto security service has arrested a Georgian national, Shalva Khizanishvili, on suspicion of spying for Tbilisi, according to media reports. Local news agency Apsnypress and RFE/RL’s Russian-language service Ekho Kavkaza reported that…

Kobakhidze Doubles Down on the Narrative of Retribution

https://civil.ge/archives/704974

Published: October 5, 2025 08:58

Following the local elections and the night of localized unrest instigated by some protest leaders, PM Irakli Kobakhidze doubled down on the narrative of retribution against protesters and their political opponents. Speaking at a special press conference,…

Police Arrest October 4 Rally Organizers After Election-Day Unrest

https://civil.ge/archives/704920

Published: October 4, 2025 22:27

Police have arrested five persons, including opposition figures and opera singer Paata Burchuladze, after the October 4 election day rally that they organized in Tbilisi escalated into unrest. They face up to nine years in prison. According to the Ministry…

CEC’s Preliminary Results: Georgian Dream Leads with 80.7% Nationwide

https://civil.ge/archives/704163

Published: October 4, 2025 19:46

The Central Election Commission (CEC) released preliminary results of the October 4 municipal elections, according to which the Georgian Dream party leads with 80.7% of the vote nationwide, compared to a combined 19.3% received by opposition parties. Only…

MIA Launches Criminal Probe into Election-Day Unrest

https://civil.ge/archives/704813

Published: October 4, 2025 18:15

The Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into the election-day unrest under multiple criminal articles, including incitement to overthrow the government and participation in group violence, Deputy Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said.…

GD Leadership Celebrates Victory, as Tensions Flare

https://civil.ge/archives/704698

Published: October 4, 2025 16:22

Members and leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party, including Honorary Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili and incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, are celebrating at the party’s headquarters in Ortachala after the pro-government television channel Imedi…

Police Cracks Down as Burchuladze Declares End of Government Legitimacy

https://civil.ge/archives/704604

Published: October 4, 2025 15:20

Paata Burchuladze, a renowned Georgian opera singer and leader of the “Rustaveli Avenue” activist group, read a declaration in front of tens of thousands of Georgian citizens gathered near Freedom Square. “We have a historic chance today, and perhaps our…

Georgian Ambassador Summoned to the U.S. State Department

https://civil.ge/archives/704673

Published: October 4, 2025 14:35

The Georgian Ambassador to the U.S., Tamar Taliashvili, was summoned to the U.S. State Department in protest of the statements made by Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the State Security Service, during a TV interview. According to the U.S Embassy…

CEC: Voter Turnout in Municipal Vote 33.46% at 17:00

https://civil.ge/archives/704132

Published: October 4, 2025 14:18

1,175,817 citizens, 33.46% of the total number of voters, had cast their ballots in the municipal elections by 17:00, three hours before the polls close, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The vote is proceeding with scant credible…

Several Lelo Candidates Quit Amid ‘Violent Change’ Claims, Which Party Dismisses

https://civil.ge/archives/704479

Published: October 4, 2025 14:12

Several candidates from the opposition Lelo/Strong Georgia coalition, which is running in the municipal elections, announced on election day, October 4, in largely similar social media posts that they were quitting the party, citing their rejection of…

Live Updates: Local Elections and Protest

https://civil.ge/archives/704204

Published: October 4, 2025 13:15

Georgia’s October 4 local elections take place across Georgia amid a partial opposition boycott, scant credible observation, continued repression by Georgian Dream authorities, jailings of protesters and opposition members, and a crackdown on independent…

CEC: Voter Turnout in Municipal Vote 28.22% at 15:00

https://civil.ge/archives/704120

Published: October 4, 2025 11:50

991,651 citizens, 28.22% of the total number of voters, have cast their ballots in the municipal elections by 15:00, five hours before the polls close, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The vote is proceeding with scant credible…

CEC: Voter Turnout in Municipal Vote 17.15% at 12:00

https://civil.ge/archives/704117

Published: October 4, 2025 08:58

602,445 citizens, 17,15% of the total number of eligible voters, have cast their ballots in the municipal elections by 12:00, four hours after the polling stations were opened, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). The highest voter turnout…

CEC: Voter Turnout in Municipal Vote 7,85% at 10:00

https://civil.ge/archives/704106

Published: October 4, 2025 06:48

275,948 citizens have cast their ballots in the municipal elections by 10:00, two hours after the polling stations were opened, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). This is 7,85% of the total number of eligible voters. The highest voter…

Polls Open in Georgia’s Partially Boycotted Local Vote

https://civil.ge/archives/704067

Published: October 4, 2025 04:01

Polls opened across Georgia at 08:00 on October 4 for the municipal elections, which are taking place amid a partial opposition boycott and a mass protest rally scheduled to run alongside the vote. The local elections are conducted under scant credible…

Young Activists Attacked, Injured in Tbilisi

https://civil.ge/archives/704188

Published: October 3, 2025 17:57

Two people, United National Movement member Igor Narmania and an underage person, were injured after what student activists said was an attack by a violent group in Tbilisi on the evening of October 3, on the eve of Georgia’s municipal elections and a…

Watchdogs: Ivanishvili-linked Lenders Shield Pro-Government TV Channels from Bankrupcy

https://civil.ge/archives/703416

Published: October 3, 2025 13:28

Imedi TV and Rustavi 2, two of Georgia’s largest pro-government broadcasters, reported combined debts of more than half a billion lari (approximately USD 183 million) as of 2024, according to recently published financial audit reports. Watchdogs say the…

Kobakhidze Warns of ‘Harshest Response’ Ahead of October 4 Rally, Elections

https://civil.ge/archives/704046

Published: October 3, 2025 12:23

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, in an October 3 briefing on the eve of Georgia’s local elections, urged citizens to cast their ballots while warning participants of a planned large rally not to “risk opposing the state system and law,”…

TI-Georgia: Georgian Dream Received 73% of All Donations in July–August

https://civil.ge/archives/704019

Published: October 3, 2025 10:31

The ruling Georgian Dream party received 73% of all political donations in July and August, Transparency International–Georgia, the country’s main corruption watchdog, said in an October 3 report, raising alarm over the possible involvement of GD’s major…

Italian Journalist Giacomo Ferrara Denied Entry to Georgia

https://civil.ge/archives/703983

Published: October 3, 2025 09:33

Italian journalist Giacomo Ferrara was denied entry to Georgia on September 29 after refusing to pay a GEL 5,000 (about USD 1,835) fine that Georgian border police at the Armenia–Georgia crossing said was linked to his presence on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli…

Anti-Corruption Bureau Expands Crackdown to Media, Activists

https://civil.ge/archives/703702

Published: October 3, 2025 09:17

The Anti-Corruption Bureau, a public body, has targeted several media organizations and individual activists with inspections, following earlier actions against dozens of civil society groups under various repressive laws. At least six media organizations…

Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 4.8% in September

https://civil.ge/archives/703984

Published: October 3, 2025 08:22

Georgia’s annual inflation rate stood at 4.8% in September, as consumer prices rose by 0.5% compared to the previous month, the National Statistics Office (Geostat) said on October 3. According to Geostat’s data, annual inflation was driven mainly by…

PACE Resolution Warns of Impending “One-Party Dictatorship Incompatible with Council of Europe membership”

https://civil.ge/archives/703404

Published: October 2, 2025 16:57

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted on October 2 the resolution on Georgia titled “Uphold democracy and the rule of law in Georgia,” with 68 votes in favor, seven against, and two abstentions. The resolution urged Georgia to…

GIP, Georgia’s Key Think Tank, Halts Work Citing Repression, Loss of Mission

https://civil.ge/archives/703926

Published: October 2, 2025 16:41

The Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP), a leading Tbilisi-based think tank established in 2011, announced it is suspending operations, citing an increasingly repressive environment but also a sense that its mission has been undermined amid the country’s…

Backgrounder: Georgia’s October 4 Half-Elections

https://civil.ge/archives/703036

Published: October 2, 2025 15:59

Georgia prepares for what may be the most extraordinary local elections in decades, with part of the mainstream opposition boycotting the vote, while activist and opposition groups are mobilizing crowds for a parallel rally in Tbilisi, with a stated aim of…

UNM Member Zviad Kuprava Arrested Over October 4 Calls

https://civil.ge/archives/703419

Published: October 1, 2025 12:06

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has arrested Zviad Kuprava, a member of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party and the Tbilisi City Council (Sakrebulo), over his Facebook video in which, the SSSG official said, he called on…

GYLA Challenges Grants Law Provision in Constitutional Court

https://civil.ge/archives/703355

Published: October 1, 2025 10:28

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), a human rights watchdog, has filed another lawsuit with the country’s Constitutional Court, challenging a provision of the Law on Grants that the Anti-Corruption Bureau, a state body, has used to begin…

Speaker Papuashvili: “EU is not a Saintly Alliance”

https://civil.ge/archives/703361

Published: October 1, 2025 08:24

Speaking during the briefing at the Parliament, its GD Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, has projected the ruling party’s vision of Europe. Papuashvili said: “The Georgian society has long dropped the rose-tinted glasses which it used to look at the world and,…

Ivanishvili Rails Against ‘Traitors’, ‘Agents’, ‘Foreign Interests’ in GD Victory Anniversary Letter

https://civil.ge/archives/703350

Published: October 1, 2025 07:11

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, marked the 13th anniversary of his party’s coming to power in the October 1 letter, railing against what he called “agents,” “internal enemies,” and “traitors” while…