ბათუმელები
On February 12, the the Georgian Dream government approved student admission quotas for state universities. The announcement regarding the quotas was made by Minister of Education, Givi Mikanadze. According to him, quotas for state universities will be distributed on the principle of “one city, one faculty,” taking into account each university’s “traditional profile.” At Tbilisi …
Continue reading “Higher Education Shake-Up: Which Faculties Stay Where”
Amid ongoing international criticism of Iran’s human rights record, Georgian Dream attended a celebration of the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tbilisi, with representatives from the Foreign Ministry speaking on behalf of the Georgian government and pledging to deepen cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The reception was held at the Paragraph Hotel …
A so-called pre-trial hearing was held in court in the case concerning the prosecution of opposition politicians, allegedly on the grounds of crimes committed against the state – “sabotage case”. The court deemed all evidence submitted by the prosecution admissible and moved the case to the merits stage. The case concerns the so-called “sabotage” charges, …
Continue reading ““Sabotage” Case Against Eight Opposition Politicians Moves Forward – Court Report”
Introduced amid mass protests and a freeze on EU integration, Georgian Dream’s education reform is reshaping Georgia’s universities and schools in ways that experts say threaten academic autonomy, international cooperation, and students’ freedom of choice. What Does Georgian Dream’s Reform Change in Higher Education? ♦ “One city, one faculty” principle: State universities will no longer …
Continue reading “‘Reform’ to Seize Total Control: Georgian Dream Targets Education System”
Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the “Akhali” party who is currently imprisoned, is facing yet another criminal charge, according to his lawyer Giorgi Kondakhishvili. The charge is scheduled to be formally presented at 15:00 at Rustavi Prison. “An investigator from the Vake-Saburtalo investigative service contacted me this morning and once again informed us …
The “Georgian Dream” parliament has passed another set of repressive legislative amendments at first reading. Under the amendments, the definition of a “grant” is further defined and significantly expanded, placing virtually any form of political self-expression by an individual under state control and criminalizing it if the individual receives resources from a citizen or a …
Continue reading “Georgian Dream Passes Another Package of Repressive Amendments at First Reading”
The ruling Georgian Dream party has introduced a sweeping new legislative package tightening restrictions on foreign funding, political activity, and public engagement for organizations and individuals in Georgia. On January 28, Georgian Dream’s parliamentary majority convened at the party’s Gorgasali office, with party chair Irakli Kobakhidze present. After the meeting, majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia presented …
On January 26, in Tbilisi, an employee of the State Security Service’s Anti-Corruption Agency was found dead. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the deceased had sustained a gunshot wound. “An Anti-Corruption Agency employee was found this morning in their car with a gunshot wound. During the inspection of the scene, a firearm, which the deceased …
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Former Georgian lawmaker Givi Targamadze was released from prison on January 26 after serving a seven-month sentence for refusing to appear before the so-called Tsulukiani Commission, established by the Georgian Dream–controlled parliament to “investigate crimes of the previous government,” a process critics say is being used to justify the banning of political parties. Speaking to …
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has begun a substantive review of the application filed by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) concerning the 2024 parliamentary elections, the organization announced. “The court has emphasized that the case may be granted the status of a matter of significant impact. The case concerns widespread violations …
The Georgian National Communications Commission has issued a written warning to independent regional media outlet Radio Marneuli over a grant received from the U.S.-based international organization NED. “32,542 GEL, which we were warned about, covered the four-month salaries of 12 staff members,” Radio Marneuli’s founder and director, Kamila Mamedova, told Batumelebi. “The funds were received as …
Giorgi Vashadze was released from prison today, January 23. He had been held in Rustavi No. 12 Penitentiary for seven months. Giorgi Vashadze is the leader of the political party Strategy Aghmashenebeli. He was arrested on June 24, 2025, for failing to appear before the so-called Tsulukiani Investigative Commission. “I am spirited and optimistic… I …
Another precedent has been set at the Tbilisi City Court, where two civil activists were ordered to four days of detention each for protesting on the sidewalk. Sandro Megrelishvili and Dimitri Jamburia are the first individuals to be sentenced to detention since the adoption of a new repressive law by Georgian Dream that severely restricts …
On January 22, the Tbilisi City Court, presided over by Judge Irakli Khuskivadze, held another hearing in one of the October 4 cases involving ten defendants and kept the in detention. This group of defendants includes the so-called “members of the organizing committee”: Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze, as …
Continue reading “Defendants in the October 4 Case Remain in Custody – Joint Case of 10 Defendants”
A first precedent has been set regarding sidewalk protest cases. Citizen Rezi Dumbadze was declared to have committed an administrative offense solely for standing on the sidewalk during a protest. However, Judge Tornike Kapanadze issued him only a verbal warning and did not impose administrative detention. This information was shared by Dumbadze himself and his …
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A citizen detained during protests against the so-called “Russian Law” has won a case against the Georgian government at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Giorgi Mekvabishvili was detained in 2023, when Georgian Dream first initiated the “Russian Law” [Law on transparency of foreign influence]. His rights were defended by the Georgian Young …
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 …
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The Public Defender has submitted a constitutional complaint to the constitutional Court challenging the restrictions defined by Georgia’s Law on “Assemblies and Manifestations,” including the blanket prohibition on covering one’s face with a mask or by any other means. According to the Public Defender’s Office, in addition to the substantive restrictions related to the rules …
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“Mzia thanks everyone. She has no expectations and has no information whatsoever regarding a possible pardon… No one from the prison administration has visited her today or yesterday either. Due to the weather, she has not been able to watch television channels. Yesterday, only Formula was available until 7 p.m. Mzia is feeling well and …
The Kutaisi City Court has sentenced four miners to prison. Merab Saralidze and Giorgi Neparidze were each sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison, while Tengiz Gvelesiani and Archil Chumburidze received sentences of 4 years and 3 months. The verdict was announced by Judge Tamar Mazanashvili. The prosecution charged the miners – Giorgi …
The trial and conviction of Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli violated her right to a fair trial and constituted an abuse of process, the Clooney Foundation for Justice asserted in a new TrialWatch Fairness Report released today. Amaglobeli, who was arrested one year ago this week, is the co-founder of the independent Georgian media outlets Batumelebi …
“Georgian Dream” has filed an official complaint with the BBC. The announcement was made by Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of Parliament of Georgian Dream. According to him, the complaint was submitted to the BBC yesterday, on January 14. On December 1, the BBC published an investigative report alleging that chemical weapons dating back to World War …
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The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), which represents the interests of journalist Mzia Amaglobeli before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), has announced that the Court has registered a second application lodged on her behalf. This application concerns her administrative detention and the related proceedings. Sakharov Prize 2025 laureate and Georgia’s first female journalist …
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Here are several key events from 2025 that illustrate how Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream systematically undermined democracy in Georgia, consolidated authoritarian rule, and pushed the country closer to Russia. Although Ivanishvili’s government now prohibits even standing on the sidewalk—threatening imprisonment for those who defy the ban—pro-European protesters have persisted in the streets for over a year. …
Continue reading “Ivanishvili’s 13 Steps to Undermine Democracy in Georgia”
As in previous years, Western countries imposed sanctions in 2025 on dozens of Georgian Dream representatives and allies. Among those sanctioned were judges who, through their roles in the party’s repressive measures, presided over both criminal and administrative cases against protest participants. In total, 47 judges have been sanctioned by Western countries in recent years. …
Continue reading “Sanctioned Justice: 44 Judges Targeted for Georgian Dream’s Crackdown in 2025”
Amid ongoing protest rallies, Georgian Dream spent the year intensifying efforts to suppress dissent by enacting laws that restrict freedom of expression. The party’s crackdown began in late 2024, when, on December 13, it criminalized several actions that had never previously been considered offenses. Protesters were banned from covering their faces and carrying lasers, while …
Continue reading “From Protest to Punishment: Georgian Dream’s 2025 War on Expression”
In 2025, internal power struggles within Georgian Dream escalated, resulting in the criminal prosecution of several high-ranking former officials, including a former prime minister and the former head of the State Security Service. While most of these officials face corruption charges, the former chief prosecutor stands accused of ordering a murder. In addition to targeting …
Continue reading “Dream vs. Dream: 10 Major Cases Against Former Officials in 2025”
On December 25, former Georgian Defense Minister Bacho (Bachana) Akhalaia, who served a nine-year prison sentence under the “Georgian Dream” government, was arrested again. The State Security Service (SSSG) says the investigative authorities consider him the “main organizer” of the October 4 events. Akhalaia has previously told the media that he even feels embarrassed by …
Continue reading “Former Defense Minister Bacho Akhalaia Detained in October 4 Case: What We Know”
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 lawyers representing Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2025 laureate, imprisoned Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, have filed a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court of Georgia. The lawyers are challenging the decision of the Kutaisi Court of Appeal, which upheld the two-year prison sentence imposed on Mzia Amaglobeli by the Batumi City Court. In …
The Georgian Dream party has begun enforcing latest repressive amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, under which protesting on sidewalks may result in administrative detention. Since December 23, more than ten citizens have been summoned to court on allegations of blocking pedestrian movement. Most hearings are scheduled for December 25–26 and relate to …
The de facto security agency of Russian-occupied South Ossetia [KGB] has specified a new charge against the Akhalgori-based Georgian activist Tamar Mearakishvili, who is currently detained. She is “suspected of transmitting information to foreign media outlets affiliated with Georgian intelligence services.” At this stage, even her family members are unaware of her whereabouts or other …
Former State Security Service chief Grigol Liluashvili has been arrested on corruption charges, prosecutors say. He is accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes between 2021 and 2023, including payments from a Turkish investor to lobby for wind power projects, bribes linked to gasification tenders, and proceeds from protecting fraudulent ‘call centers’. Prosecutors also …
For nearly a year, journalist Mzia Amaglobeli has remained behind bars, serving a two-year sentence for a single slap—an imprisonment widely regarded as politically motivated and unlawful. On 16 December 2025, she was awarded the Sakharov Prize, the European Union’s highest human rights honor. In addition to honoring Amaglobeli’s personal sacrifice and the broader struggle …
Continue reading “12 Judges Behind the Unlawful Imprisonment of Mzia Amaglobeli”
As part of its cooperation with Eagle Hills, the government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara has transferred 2.57 million square meters (257.9 hectares) of coastal land near Gonio, including a former military training ground, to the Georgian state at no cost. Authorities report that Eagle Hills plans to invest USD 6.6 billion in development …
On December 16, Mzia Amaglobeli was awarded the European Union’s highest human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize, in Strasbourg. She received this prestigious award jointly with Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who is also imprisoned. The award was accepted on her behalf by Irma Dimitradze, a journalist from Batumelebi, who also read a letter from Mzia …
