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Georgia: New Foreign Agent Law Takes Effect
On May 31, Georgia’s new foreign agent law took effect. It mandates that individuals and organizations deemed to be acting in the interest of a “foreign principal” to register with the Anti-Corruption Bureau within ten days or face penalties including fines up to ₾10,000 (~$3,600), imprisonment for up to five years, or deportation in the…
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Georgian Opposition Figure Arrested as Government Pushes EU Narrative
On May 22, Georgian opposition leader Zurab Japaridze was arrested in a Tbilisi courtroom after refusing to pay ₾20,000 ($7,300) bail tied to his noncompliance with a parliamentary investigative commission. The commission, initiated by the ruling Georgian Dream party (conservative party), is examining alleged abuses during the 2003–2012 presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili and has the…
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Silk Roads: China’s Footprint in Georgia
On March 31, 2025, Georgia deepened its shift toward China by signing a financial cooperation deal, reflecting broader strategic realignment amid stalled EU integration and declining Western engagement. CREDIT: Kari Nousiainen.On March 31, 2025, the National Bank of Georgia signed a memorandum of understanding with the People’s Bank of China in Beijing, outlining cooperation in monetary policy, financial technology, payment systems, and securities market development. This development marks a new phase in bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and is part of Georgia’s broader strategic…
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Georgian Authorities Raid Protest-Linked NGOs and Activists
On April 29, Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office conducted coordinated home searches targeting civil society figures and organisations accused of financially supporting anti-government, pro-European Union protests. The searches, based on court-issued warrants, were carried out at the homes of prominent figures involved in civil society and activism, including journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani and human rights defender Aleko…
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Georgia’s Protests: A Local’s Perspective on a Political Crisis
To better understand the developing crisis in Georgia, we spoke with a protester for firsthand, on-the-ground insight.Through the past 2 years, Tbilisi has been at the heart of lasting waves of protests, with thousands of Georgians taking to the streets in opposition to the government’s actions. While international observers debate the implications, the perspective of those on the ground provides crucial insight into the movement’s evolution. Nino*, a young protester in…
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Georgian New Laws Spark Human Rights Concerns
On February 2, the Georgian Dream government deployed police and special forces to prevent demonstrators from blocking the main highway during a pro-European rally near Tbilisi Mall. Over 50 protesters, including politicians Gigi Ugulava, Nika Melia, and activist Dima Bidzinashvili, were arrested. Reports of police violence, including physical assaults and mistreatment of detainees, prompted calls…
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Slovakia Accuses Georgian Legion of Fomenting Protests
Slovak authorities have accused the Georgian Legion of involvement in recent protests against Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government, which have been driven by concerns over democratic backsliding, corruption, media restrictions, and its pro-Russian policies, including the reduction of military aid to Ukraine. The Georgian Legion is a paramilitary unit formed in 2014 to support Ukraine…
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Georgian Dream Alleges Western Interference in Statement
On January 8, the ruling Georgian Dream party released a statement addressing Western sanctions and Georgia’s current political developments. The party accused Western nations of supporting a “party of global war” and a “deep state” allegedly working to destabilize Georgia and push it into war. It linked US and European leaders to this alleged network…
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Georgia: Reports of Systematic Abuse and Torture Against Protesters
Ongoing protests in Georgia over EU membership have led NGOs to allege torture from authorities. CREDIT: Tbel Abuseridze.Multiple human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA, leading Georgian human rights advocacy), have reported allegations of excessive force and ill-treatment of protesters by Georgian police and security forces between November 28 and December 20, 2024. The incidents occurred during protests in Tbilisi, sparked by the ruling…
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Georgia: a Year of Crisis
We turn our attention back to Georgia in 2024. CREDIT: Tbel Abuseridze.Throughout 2024, Georgia experienced mounting political turmoil, characterized by violent protests, international criticism, contentious elections, and escalating accusations of pro-Russian policies against the ruling Georgian Dream party. Today, we revisit the political crisis that unfolded in Georgia over the past year. The Foreign Agents Law In early 2023, the Georgian Parliament introduced a draft law…