ბათუმელები
The substantive hearings in the so-called “sabotage” case against Georgia’s eight opposition leaders are continuing at an accelerated pace. The defendants and their lawyers expect a verdict by the end of this month or, at the latest, in August. While the court initially held roughly one hearing per month, over the past month proceedings have …
Continue reading “Closed-Door Trial of Eight Georgian Opposition Leaders Speeds Toward Verdict”
A British citizen, Matthew Roy Desmond, faces between 8 and 12 years in prison in Georgia. According to his lawyers, the Prosecutor’s Office has charged him under Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 262 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concern the illegal importation of large quantities of narcotic and psychotropic substances into the country. His …
Belarusian journalist of Polish origin, Andrzej Poczobut, believes that receiving the European Union’s highest award influenced the decision to release him. In 2025, while still imprisoned, Poczobut was awarded the European Union’s top human rights award — the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought — jointly with Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi.. “The …
Lawyer Shota Tutberidze was first issued an administrative offence report by Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and was later fined 4,000 GEL by Judge Davit Makaridze over a comment he posted under a social media post by Georgian Dream Parliament member Nino Tsilosani. The fine was imposed under Article 173¹⁶ of Georgia’s Code of Administrative …
On June 10, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a special press briefing to announce the elevation of Georgia–China relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership — a move that was announced yesterday, on the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Georgia. On June 9, Chinese …
According to the final results of the latest parliamentary election, three political forces will be represented in Armenia’s new National Assembly (Parliament): Civil Contract Party Strong Armenia Alliance Armenia Alliance The distribution of seats will be as follows: Civil Contract Party – 64 seats 64 – 29 seats Armenia Alliance – 12 seats At the …
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze acknowledged that the social employment programme paying 300 lari per month was, in reality, fictitious employment and did not address unemployment. “The reduction in employment is entirely formal and has one specific reason: there was a programme replacing social assistance, and 30,000 people can be said to had been …
The German Ambassador to Georgia, Peter Fischer, will soon complete his mission. The ambassador says that during his 40-year diplomatic career, Georgia has differed from other countries in one important way: apart from Georgia, in none of the countries where he worked did he witness a “backslide.” Batumelebi interviewed Peter Fischer. We spoke with him …
გერმანიის ელჩი საქართველოში, პეტრე ფიშერი მალე თავის მისიას დაასრულებს. ელჩი ამბობს, რომ მისი 40-წლიანი დიპლომატიური კარიერის განმავლობაში საქართველო სხვა ქვეყნებისგან იმით განსხვავდება, რომ საქართველოს გარდა, არც ერთი ქვეყანაში, სადაც ის მუშაობდა, არ მომხდარა „უკუსვლა“. „ბათუმელებმა“ ინტერვიუ ჩაწერა პეტერ ფიშერთან. მას „ოცნების“ რიტორიკაზე, გერმანია-საქართველოს ურთიერთობაზე, უვიზო რეჟიმის შეჩერებასა და სხვა მნიშვნელოვან საკითხებზე ვესაუბრეთ. ელჩმა ფიშერმა ასევე …
Continue reading “„მე სამ გზას ვხედავ საქართველოსთვის“ – ინტერვიუ პეტერ ფიშერთან”
On April 23, Batumi City Court was due to hear another case involving imprisoned Georgian journalist and Sakharov Prize laureate Mzia Amaglobeli, but the hearing was postponed until May 11. The case concerns an incident on January 11, 2025, when Amaglobeli placed a sticker on the fence of the Adjara Police Department building. She has …
An oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili — the honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party, former Prime Minister of Georgia, and widely regarded as the country’s informal ruler — hosted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at his business center. The meeting also included government delegations. The party published a video of the meeting with the original sound replaced …
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, arrived in Georgia today, on April 6. The Georgian government confirmed the visit only today, despite reports about Aliyev’s trip having circulated unofficially as early as yesterday. According to official information, Ilham Aliyev is scheduled to meet with Irakli Kobakhidze and Mikheil Kavelashvili. His program also …
Continue reading “Aliyev Visits Georgia a Day After Tbilisi Deports Journalist Afghan Sadygov”
Cover Photo: Mzia Amaglobeli holding a handwritten poster that reads: “Don’t Stop! Don’t Register” (referring to registering as a foreign agent when receiving foreign grants) The Local Board of the Special Penitentiary Service reviewed Mzia Amaglobeli’s case for conditional early release (parole) and rejected it because she “still does not repent her actions.” The law …
Continue reading “Early Release for Mzia Amaglobeli Denied Over “Unrepentant Attitude””
The European Court of Human Rights has registered a third application submitted on behalf of Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Batumelebi&Netgazeti, concerning ill-treatment that took place on January 12, 2025. The application was submitted by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA). It was submitted on March 4, 2026, and the ECHR registered the case within one …
Starting April 3, 2026 holders of Georgian diplomatic, official, or service passports will require a visa to enter Switzerland. The decision was made by the Swiss Federal Council at its meeting on April 1. Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it has aligned itself with a decision taken by Brussels on …
The court hearing of Eliso Kiladze, founder of Qronika+, was closed at the request of the prosecution. The defendant herself opposed the prosecution’s motion, stating that, as a journalist, publicity is of fundamental importance to her. Kiladze’s statement prior to the closure of the hearing was reported by InterpressNews (IPN). “I do not agree with …
The hearing of Netgazeti journalist Mariam Dzidzaria, who is facing up to 15 day detention for covering protest, was postponed just minutes after it began. Judge Tornike Kapanadze has not yet set a date for the next session. The postponement request was made by Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia representative Tinatin Kachkachishvili, who said …
Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly referred to the Chinese–Singaporean consortium as the tender winner. While the consortium is the sole remaining bidder, the official decision by the commission has not yet been announced Peter Andreoli, a U.S. State Department official, is visiting Georgia and travelled to Anaklia on March 26 to observe …
On January 20, Judge Tamar Mchedlishvili reviewed the use of pre-trial detention as a preventive measure for 11 defendants detained in connection with the October 4 case. However, the judge ruled to keep all 11 in custody. The defendants are Abo Naveriani, Vakhtang Pitskhelauri, Guriel Kardava, Beka Kelekhsashvili, Mamuka Labuchidze, Giorgi Muladze, Avtandil Surmanidze, Temur …
Continue reading “Judge Orders 11 Defendants in October 4 Case to Remain in Pre-Trial Detention”
This holiday season, Tbilisi presents itself as “a city full of kindness,” illuminated by lavish festive decorations. Yet more than a hundred political prisoners – a number that continues to grow – are spending the holidays behind bars, unable to be with their loved ones, with many suffering from deteriorating health. Among them, two political …
The ruling Georgian Dream party has unveiled plans for significant government restructuring. The Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Personal Data Protection Service will be abolished, with all their functions transferred to the State Audit Office starting 2 March 2026. Meanwhile, the Business Ombudsman will move under the Ministry of Economy beginning 1 January 2026, according to Parliament …
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia announced on October 29 that it will request the court to replace the pretrial detention of imprisoned teacher and activist Nino Datashvili with bail, citing her deteriorating health. According to the statement, recent medical examinations confirmed that Datashvili requires surgery and subsequent treatment. “Taking into account the defendant’s health condition, …
Seven participants of the October 4 protest have been granted bail after being charged with obstructing film crews from pro-government media outlets. Six of the protesters were each released on 3,000 GEL bail, while civil activist and former TV host Irakli Tsulaia was assigned a 5,000 GEL bail. Despite this, Tsulaia remains in custody, as …
Formula TV issues a statement regarding the detention of journalist Keta Tsitskishvili. According to the statement, Formula TV views the recent escalation in harassment of journalists as an attack on independent media, aimed at suppressing critical voices. “On October 20, the regime’s police detained another Formula anchor, journalist Keta Tsitskishvili, allegedly for participating in a …
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, searches were conducted at the homes of former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, former Head of the State Security Service Grigol Liluashvili, former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze, and eight other individuals connected to them. The announcement was made at a briefing by Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvaramidze. “Within the framework of …
On October 10, the ruling Georgian Dream [GD] party held a special briefing devoted to journalist Mzia Amaglobeli receiving the 2025 IPI–IMS World Press Freedom Hero Award. During the briefing, GD once again spread disinformation about Amaglobeli’s case, distorting key facts. “The decision to give Mzia Amaglobeli this hero’s award is a continuation of the unfair …
On October 9, in Tbilisi, police detained 71-year-old pediatrician and professor Giorgi Chakhunashvili at his home. Later that evening, around 10 p.m., his son, Kote Chakhunashvili, wrote on Facebook that police had entered his father’s apartment. Soon after, journalists and protesters gathered outside the residence but found the door locked. Within about 30 minutes, police …
Opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria, leader of Droa party and a member of the Coalition for Change, has been arrested after writing “Russian Dream” on Kakha Kaladze’s election banner on Melikishvili Street, Tbilisi. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said the investigation was launched following a complaint from the ruling Georgian Dream party, citing Article 187 of …
Continue reading “Another Georgian Opposition Leader, Elene Khoshtaria, Arrested Over Protest Act”
The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on September 10 that three people had been detained over the clashes of September 8 and protest of September 9 on Melikishvili Avenue in Tbilisi. Two of them are Georgian Dream activists accused of violence, while the third is a pro-European protester who spray-painted “Russian Dream” on Kakha Kaladze’s …
Today, September 4, the lawyers of journalist and founding CEO of independent Georgian online media outlets Batumelebi.ge and Netgazeti.ge, Mzia Amaglobeli filed an appeal with the Criminal Cases Chamber of the Kutaisi Court of Appeals. Mzia Amaglobeli’s lawyers are challenging the verdict delivered on August 6 by the Batumi City Court, which sentenced her to …
Continue reading “Defense Lawyers Appeal Two-Year Prison Verdict Against Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli”
In the so-called “face masks’ case,” on September 3, former director of ISFED, Nino Dolidze, is testifying before a magistrate judge. According to Dolidze, ISFED has never purchased anything for protests, and the face masks cited in the case brought against them under the investigation into “sabotage against the state” had in fact been bought …
The General Prosecutor’s Office is summoning the heads of civil society organizations for questioning as witnesses in the so-called “face masks” case over alleged sabotage against the state. “As the public is aware, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia is conducting an investigation into sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assisting foreign organizations or organizations under …
Georgian Dream–appointed President Mikheil Kavelashvili addresses US President Donald Trump: Open Letter To the President of the United States of America, His Excellency Mr. Donald Trump First of all, I would like once again to express my deep respect for you as the leader chosen by the American people. I also wish to reiterate my …
Prisoner of conscience Archil Museliantsi, who was arrested in connection with pro-European rallies and has reported police abuse and a forced confession, was sentenced to four years in prison. The decision was handed down by Judge Giorgi Arevadze. Notably, while in pre-trial detention, Museliantsi took the Unified National Exams and was admitted to a four-year …
Continue reading “Museliantsi Given Four Years Following Claims of Beatings and Forced Confession”
At today’s hearing, the court reviewed a motion to reconsider the preventive measure in the case of poet Zviad Ratiani. The defense sought his release on 10,000 GEL bail, while the prosecution requested he remain in custody. Judge Lela Kalichenko sided with the prosecution, ruling to keep Ratiani in pretrial detention. “It was the least …
Veteran soldier and prisoner of conscience Anatoli Gigauri has been sentenced to two years in prison. The verdict was delivered by Judge Jvebe Nachkebia. The judge altered the charges against Gigauri in the same way as in the case of conscience prisoner and journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who was also sentenced to two years in prison. …
