ბათუმელები
Over 30 media outlets express solidarity with journalist Vakho Sanaia. On October 19, police detained Vakho Sanaia, a journalist and anchor at Formula TV. The court sentenced him to six days of administrative detention on charges of blocking a road. The full statement reads: “On October 19, Formula TV journalist Vakho Sanaia was detained and …
Continue reading “Over 30 Media Outlets in Georgia Express Solidarity with Journalist Vakho Sanaia”
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 …
“Formula TV” journalist Keta Tsitskishvili is reportedly being detained. She wrote about it herself: “They’ve come for me too! The police showed up! If they think they can scare me, my family, or any of my friends – they’re wrong. In the end, we will still win,” Tsitskishvili wrote, asking her grandparents not to worry. …
Continue reading “Another Journalist Arrested in New Wave of Detentions Targeting Daily Protests”
Sixteen more people have been arrested on October 17 in connection with the events of October 4, bringing the total number of detainees to 62. The announcement was made by Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Gela Geladze, representing the ruling Georgian Dream party. “Today we arrested 16 additional individuals. As of now, a total of …
Continue reading “Sixteen More Arrested in Connection with October 4 Events, Total Detainees Now 62”
On October 14 in Brussels, five Members of the European Parliament co-hosted a discussion titled “Freedom Behind Bars: Standing with Mzia Amaglobeli and Georgia’s Pro-Democracy Movement.” Following the opening remarks by the MEPs, the floor was given to Amaglobeli’s colleagues and her international lawyers. The event also featured addresses from Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, …
Continue reading “Freedom Behind Bars: EU Parliament Hears Call to Stand with Mzia Amaglobeli”
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 …
Flagbearer of the Batumi protests, Zurab Chavchanidze, has been arrested. According to information provided to Batumelebi, the flagbearer was detained today, October 8, in Batumi. Witnesses say around ten police officers participated in the arrest. Batumelebi has learned that Zurab Chavchanidze has been transferred to Tbilisi. Chavchanidze attended the protest in Tbilisi on October 4. …
On October 6, thirteen more people were arrested in connection with the investigation into the October 4 protest. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, stated that two additional individuals have been declared wanted. According to the United National Movement (UNM), four of the detainees – Aleksandre Khabeishvili, Sergo Megrelishvili, Abo Naveriani, and Kakha Mzhavanadze …
One of the key figures arrested on serious criminal charges in connection with the October 4 events Colonel Lasha Beridze, former Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces. Since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Batumelebi has published several interviews with Lasha Beridze, featuring him as a military analyst. …
Besarion Alavidze, a former Supreme Court judge now residing abroad, has publicly accused Georgia’s ruling elite, including Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Murusidze-Chinchaladze group, of exerting pressure, issuing threats, and interfering in high-profile court cases. In a video recorded earlier but recently made public, Alavidze discusses previously unknown instances of pressure on judges. Former Supreme Court …
“Georgian Dream” propagandist Zaza Shatirishvili claims that part of the youth is “redundant” and should leave Georgia – “just as the communists left the Basque Country during Franco’s regime”. He praised the Spanish dictator and said that “Georgian Dream” likewise defends religion. Speaking on Radio Sivrtse, Shatirishvili said that many opposition supporters are already emigrating. …
“You will see with your own eyes on October 4, 2025, how many Ministry of Internal Affairs officers will switch sides and stand with the public,” says Irakli Shaishmelashvili, a former senior official of the Special Tasks Department, who now lives in the United States. In an interview with Batumelebi, Shaishmelashvili discusses the internal dynamics …
Continue reading “Police Will Stand with Citizens on October 4, Former Department Official Claims”
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 …
Georgian emigrants have launched a movement called Mzia, inspired by imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaglobeli to unite all of today’s political prisoners under one symbol, strengthen resistance against the ruling regime, mobilize supporters at home and abroad, and create a unified agenda for freedom. The Mzia List is a key component of this effort. Koki Ionatamishvili …
Continue reading “The Mzia List: Emigrants Unite to Expose and Resist Georgia’s Repressive Regime”
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 …
The total number of prisoners of conscience has exceeded 60 in Georgia. But behind the numbers are specific names, and behind those names lie distinct pasts and futures. Some are accused of group violence, including organized acts; some of attacking law enforcement officers; some of damaging surveillance cameras; and politicians of showing disrespect to Tea …
Continue reading “From Siberia to the “Georgian Dream’s” Prison — The Case of Anton Chechin”
After the Georgian court froze the bank accounts of seven Civil Society Organizations (CSO/NGO), the ruling party’s propaganda channel, TV Imedi, attempted to portray these organizations as engaged in “state sabotage.” The channel aired documents showing that the CSOs had purchased respirators, protective goggles and other protective items worth 8,700GEL [approximately $3,230]. In a press …
“Despite Asset Freezes and Repressions, Georgian NGOs Will Continue Our Work,” – said representatives of civil society organizations whose accounts have been frozen by the authorities. Today, seven civil society organizations held a joint briefing and stated: “The asset freeze of seven independent organizations represents yet another illegal act by Ivanishvili’s government. It violates fundamental …
The decision by Tbilisi City Court to freeze the bank accounts of seven civil society organizations has drawn sharp reactions from rights groups and public figures, who warn the move threatens Georgia’s democracy and relations with the EU. According to Tamta Mikeladze, head of the civil society organization Social Justice Center, freezing the accounts of …
The Tbilisi City Court granted the Prosecutor’s Office’s motion and ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of seven civil society organizations. By the court’s decision, the accounts of the following organizations were frozen: the Civil Society Foundation, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information, …
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. …
On August 6, Judge Romeo Tkeshelashvili acquitted Giorgi Akhobadze, a doctor and prisoner of conscience charged with drug-related offenses, and ordered his immediate release from the courtroom. Akhobadze was accused of purchasing and possessing a particularly large quantity of narcotics — a charge that carried a sentence of 8 to 20 years, or even life …
Teacher and activist Nino Datashvili has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office and by decision of the court, according to her legal team from the human rights organization PHR. Under the court ruling, Datashvili will be forcibly transferred to a psychiatric facility if she refuses to comply. …
