The court in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk has sentenced Nino Kakhniashvili, a 28-year-old Georgian national, to 15 years in a penal colony in absentia, accusing her of fighting for Ukraine as a “mercenary.” Kakhniashvili has dismissed charges, saying her role in Ukraine was limited to providing medical assistance. According to a statement by the Donetsk de facto prosecutor’s office, Kakhniashvili arrived in Ukraine in April 2022 and voluntarily joined the Georgian National Legion, a military volunteer formation. The statement claims she underwent combat training and took part in military operations against Russian forces until September 2022. The prosecutors further claimed that she later left for Georgia after learning that the Ukrainian command had decided to “actively deploy Georgian fighters on the front lines during a counteroffensive.” The statement also alleged that she returned to the combat zone in spring 2023 and remained there until June 2025, during which time she received more than two million rubles in equivalent “for her mercenary activities.” Kakhniashvili was found guilty under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Russian Criminal Code, which criminalizes participation in an armed conflict as a mercenary. The de facto court sentenced her in absentia to serve the term in a general-regime correctional colony. Russian authorities charged and placed Kakhniashvili on an international wanted list on December 15. Responding to the accusations, she denied any involvement in combat. “I confirm that I was present in so-called hot spots, however, my activities were entirely limited to performing medical duties,” Kakhniashvili wrote on Facebook on December 18, noting that she provided medical assistance to military personnel, regardless of citizenship, as well as to civilians. Describing the charges as unfounded, Kakhniashvili said her actions “at no stage exceeded the framework of a doctor’s professional duties, ethical norms, and international medical protocols.” Also Read: * 15/12/2025 – Russia Sentences Georgian National to 28 Years in Absentia for Fighting on Ukrainian Side * 12/11/2025 – Russia Sentences Georgian Fighter to 28 Years in Absentia for Fighting in Ukraine * 31/10/2025 – Russia Charges Georgian National Giorgi Partsvania for Fighting in Ukraine * 23/07/2025 – Russia Sentences Georgian Citizen to 6.5 Years in Prison in Absentia for Fighting in Ukraine

Georgia received USD 298.39 million in foreign money transfers in November, an 11.9% increase year-over-year, according to data released by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). The United States and European Union countries were the largest sources, accounting for a combined share of 64.8% worth USD 193.63 million. EU member states collectively sent USD 135.79 million to Georgia, comprising 45.51% of all transfers and marking a 14% increase compared to November 2024. By individual countries, the top five sources were the United States with USD 57.84 million (19.3%), Italy with USD 50.31 million (16.8%), the Russian Federation with USD 38.49 million (12.9%), Germany with USD 27.49 million (9.2%), and Greece with USD 24.68 million (8.2%). Uzbekistan recorded the highest year-on-year growth, with transfers rising 41.6% to USD 1.04 million. Substantial increases were also reported from Spain, up 39.4% to USD 7.93 million, the Netherlands (29.4%), and Russia (29.3%). In contrast, Kyrgyzstan saw the largest decline, as transfers fell 53.6% year-over-year to USD 3.72 million, according to the NBG data. Meanwhile, money transfers from Georgia totaled USD 36.8 million in November 2025, an increase of 10.3% compared to USD 33.3 million recorded in November 2024. According to the World Bank’s 2024 data, personal remittances to Georgia equal to 11.9% of the country’s GDP. Also Read: * 19/12/2025 – Georgia’s GDP Up 6.4% in Q3 2025 * 19/12/2025 – Georgia’s Foreign Trade Up 9.5% in January-November 2025 * 26/11/2025 – EU, U.S. Top Money Transfers to Georgia in October * 14/09/2022 – Study Shows 23% of Georgian Population has Emigrated in a Decade

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross visited all Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan. The visit focused on the prisoners' conditions of detention and their health.

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced on December 25 arresting Bacho Akhalaia, who served as interior and defense minister under the United National Movement (UNM) government, on allegations of leading the October 4 events, with the agency citing records of “phone internet communications” with other alleged organizers as evidence. The arrest comes nearly three months after the October 4 tensions, when a group of protesters, upon calls by election-day rally organizers, tried to occupy the presidential palace in Tbilisi, but were repelled by police. Georgian Dream authorities framed the events as a foreign-orchestrated coup attempt, arresting up to 60 persons in the weeks that followed, including five alleged organizers: activist and opera singer Paata Burchuladze, United National Movement party members Irakli Nadiradze and Murtaz Zodelava, Strategy Agmashenebeli party member Paata Manjgaladze, and retired colonel Lasha Beridze.  October 4 developments “were led through internet applications [by Akhalaia],” Lasha Maghradze, deputy SSSG head, said during the briefing, describing Akhalaia as “the main organizer” of the events within Georgia. He said the agency was able to establish the records of internet communications via phone applications “with a high standard of truthfulness, down to the exact minutes and seconds” based on internet traffic data. Maghradze said the agency had traced a total of 343 “internet sessions” between an IP address registered to Akhalaia’s wife, Ana Nadareishvili, and five alleged organizers of the October 4 events, spanning the period from September 28, 9 pm, until the suspects’ arrest in the early hours of October 5. That, Maghradze said, included communications on the day of the tensions, including nine minutes before Zodelava and Burchuladze would make “violent calls,” as well as in the aftermath of the “violent storming” of the palace, during which Beridze was said to have been near the site and “receiving directives” from Akhalaia. The deputy SSSG head further claimed that, after a “tape” allegedly suggesting Akhalaia and Paata Burchuladze were orchestrating unrest was leaked late on October 4, Zodelava began communicating with Zviad Gagua, a person allegedly living at Akhalaia’s residence. According to Maghradze, three minutes after the contact between Gagua and Zodelava, the latter returned to the stage and presented a new plan to move toward the Georgian Dream headquarters. Maghradze did not clarify whether the State Security Service was able to monitor the contents of the conversations from the alleged contacts, or if the allegations are based solely on analyzing data such as timing and IP addresses. The SSSG announcement followed reports that police had been mobilized near Akhalaia’s apartment. The agency said that Ana Nadareishvili, Akhalaia’s wife, had also been arrested but would be released while the investigation continues to examine her possible involvement in the alleged events. Officials repeatedly brought up Akhalaia’s name in connection with the October 4 unrest in recent months, including over an alleged recording of his conversation with Paata Burchuladze and claims linking him to the so-called Hexogen case, in which two Ukrainian citizens were arrested for allegedly importing explosives. Akhalaia was earlier summoned by the Georgian Interior Ministry over the recording, which was released by pro-government media and which the former minister denied was authentic. During the briefing, Maghradze also pointed to Akhalaia’s possible links with a criminal case where SSSG claimed on October 5 that it found “large quantities” of firearms, ammunition, and explosives. The agency alleged at the time that they were intended for “subversive acts” during the October 4 unrest in Tbilisi, and linked them to a “military unit” in Ukraine. --- Akhalaia, a controversial figure during the United National Movement’s rule, has been convicted of multiple offenses related to his official duties after Georgian Dream came to power in 2012. He was arrested in 2012 and released in 2022, having been found guilty of abuse of power, organizing torture, and sexual abuse in separate trials. Also Read: * 24/10/2025 – Seven Charged for Obstructing Pro-Government Journalists During October 4 Unrest * 08/10/2025 – Kobakhidze Accuses West of ‘Indirectly’ Backing ‘Overthrow and Violence’ After October 4 Unrest

The preliminary results of the investigation into the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau have revealed that it was damaged by warhead fragments, but their origin has not been determined. No traces of explosives were found on board, the Kazakh Ministry of Transport stated.

The Meydan TV case hearing at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes saw an unexpected turn on December 22. Imprisoned journalists used the indictment reading as an opportunity to stage a musical protest. They sang new lyrics to a well-known chorus from Uzeyir Hajibeyov’s operetta Arşın Mal Alan, mockingly challenging the state’s claims of wrongdoing: “Smuggler, show us the goods / Open your estates and show them… The people want to know.” This was a call for transparency. Judge Ayten Aliyeva oversaw the session that showed the tension between the defense and the court. The State Tax Service is seeking about 80,000 AZN from the accused, adding financial strain to a politically charged case. The court denied the defense’s request to record the trial, though twelve media professionals are facing serious charges. The court stated that media observers taking notes would be enough. The defendants and their lawyers pointed out what they said were ongoing issues with the process. Shamshad Agha, editor-in-chief of Arqument.az, claimed that the investigation was not valid because the documents were not prepared on the required forms. He said this could allow for later falsification. After his request to dismiss these documents was rejected, Agha called the session a farce, claiming the court was acting outside the law. The personal impact of the detention was clear through different requests. Aynur Elgunesh, editor-in-chief of Meydan TV, was able to get back her disability and IDP cards, which had been held by investigators. But her request to have her dog, Max, visit her at the detention center was denied. The judge said there was no provision for such visits, but Elgunesh argued that there was no law against them. Journalists Ulviyya Ali and Fatima Movlamli asked for the return of their electronics containing family photos and memories, but these requests were ignored. The Meydan TV case is part of a larger effort to control independent media in Azerbaijan that began in late 2023. Since then, more than 30 journalists and activists, including people from Abzas Media and Toplum TV, have been arrested on similar charges. These include illegal business activity, tax evasion, and smuggling. The state says these are criminal cases unrelated to their work. The defendants say their imprisonment is political retaliation for exposing government wrongdoing. The trial is scheduled to start again on January 16, 2026, with the journalists facing up to 12 years in prison. Meanwhile, their song stands as a symbol of their resistance to what they see as an unjust legal process.

The Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, said his office plans to challenge the amendments adopted by the ruling Georgian Dream party throughout 2025 to crack down on protests in the Constitutional Court, citing, among others, proportionality concerns. Over the past year, Georgian Dream has rolled out waves of restrictions on freedom of assembly, with initial steep fines for acts such as blocking roads or covering faces during rallies later replaced with detention as a penalty. In December, the measures were expanded to include “obstructing the movement of people” in pedestrian areas, and the ruling party also introduced stricter advance notice requirements. The remarks of Ioseliani, who has faced criticism over not being vocal enough against Georgian Dream’s repression, come as Georgian authorities begin enforcing the latest amendments. Several protesters have reported receiving court summonses for rallying on sidewalks, but hearings scheduled for December 25 were adjourned, and the courts have yet to issue the first rulings under the new laws. “What we see is precisely a problem of proportionality and commensurability, using imprisonment without alternative, introducing criminal responsibility [directly] after that,” Ioseliani said during a December 24 interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster. “We believe that this is the part that should be challenged before the Constitutional Court of Georgia.” Addressing the advance notice rule, Ioseliani said the concept itself is not new, but warned against transforming it into a de facto rally sanctioning system. The latest amendments require organizers to file advance notice of planned rallies with police and authorize law enforcement to issue binding instructions changing the location, form, or route of protests, with non-compliance punishable by administrative detention and criminal sentence if repeated. “A provision on [advance] notice exists in the Constitution; this is not new,” Ioseliani explained. “However, it is important that, in its substance, such notice does not turn into something resembling a mandatory sanctioning, which would in itself contradict the Constitution.” The Public Defender particularly criticised blanket bans on covering faces during rallies, which, per the October amendments, are also punished by administrative detention. “I think this is a disproportionate sanction in relation to assemblies, and in general, it is illogical how one can prohibit a person from using a face covering,” he said. Asked whether he agrees with the use of imprisonment for blocking roads, Ioseliani said he does not, arguing that such provisions deprive judges of alternative administrative tools. He also warned that certain laws introduced to crack down on a specific protest, like daily rallies on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue, will then be extended to other groups as well. “The fact that certain events are taking place on Rustaveli Avenue, where a particular group, whether for political or other purposes, deliberately and persistently violates the law – if such is the case – cannot be extended to everyone,” he said. He argued that the amedments would mean that they will also apply “in any other place, whether it will be a protest emerged on social grounds or other assemblies, which will incommensurably restrict the freedom of expression of these people, who won’t have a connection to politics.” Ioseliani also said freedom of expression must be balanced against other rights, particularly regarding the road blockages. “If we see a sufficient number of people, they have a full and legitimate right to block both pedestrian areas and roadways for transport,” he said. “If such a number is not present, a small group of people does not have such legitimacy. This is consistent not only with international practice, but also with court rulings, and most importantly, with common sense and logic.” Ioseliani earlier requested OSCE/ODIHR’s opinion over the anti-protest amendments fast-tracked in October, which introduced detention and eventual criminal sentences for blocking the road and covering faces during rallies. The urgent opinion, released in November, called for the repeal of the legislation, warning it raises “serious concerns about Georgia’s lack of compliance with international human rights obligations.” GD’s Intensifying Crackdown on Protests For nearly a year, protesters had daily blocked Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue in front of parliament as a symbolic act of resistance. In October, the ruling Georgian Dream party further tightened already strict anti-protest laws, making acts such as blocking roads and covering faces punishable by immediate detention rather than fines, with repeat acts subject to criminal liability carrying sentences of up to one year in prison. In the initial weeks of enforcing the new laws since October, over a hundred people were arrested, many of whom were sent to administrative detention, while one was charged criminally for a “repeated act.” Starting in early November, police physically pushed protesters onto the sidewalks to prevent road blockages, prompting demonstrators to switch to evening downtown marches as an alternative form of protest. Detentions, however, continued during these marches. In December, the ruling party expanded restrictions on “obstructing traffic” to include pedestrian areas and introduced a mandatory requirement to notify police in advance of planned assemblies. The amendments authorize police to issue binding instructions altering the location or route of demonstrations. Failure to notify police, comply with such instructions, or clear roads or sidewalks upon police order may result in administrative detention of up to 15–20 days, while repeat offenses may carry criminal liability punishable by up to one year in prison. Also Read: * 24/12/2025 – Protesters Report First Administrative Proceedings for Rallying on Sidewalk * 14/11/2025 – OSCE/ODIHR Calls for Repeal of Georgia’s New Protest Laws * 01/11/2025 – Protester Faces Up to One Year in Jail After Police Arrests Him for ‘Repeat Road-Blocking’

Luka Gventsadze Georgian Dream officials marked the completion of the 14-year railway modernization project, hailing it as one of the largest investments in Georgia’s transport sector and projecting higher cargo capacity, shorter transit times, and a reduced Tbilisi–Batumi travel time by 2026. The project spans a lengthy section, stretching from Tbilisi to Makhinjauri in coastal Adjara, with its main highlight being the overhaul of the central, mountainous, and technically challenging pass that links eastern and western Georgia. The construction works, carried out by a Chinese contractor, included the building of bridges and tunnels on this section and have more recently attracted controversy over alleged disastrous environmental damage in nearby villages. “This is one of the largest investments ever made in Georgia’s transport sector. With the completion of this project, the capacity of Georgian Railways has increased significantly, operating costs have been reduced, safety has been enhanced, and passenger comfort has improved,” Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said as he addressed the completion ceremony on December 24. The ceremony, attended by top government and business officials, took place in Kvishkheti, in the country’s central Shida Kartli region, at the entrance of the dual-tube 8,300-meter-long railway tunnel, described by officials as the largest in the region. Georgian Railway, the state-owned company, started the project on September 20, 2011. Originally slated for completion by the end of 2019, the project was financed through a World Bank loan and was implemented by Georgian Railways and China Railway 23rd Bureau Group, under the supervision of the Austrian-German consortium ILF Consulting Engineers and Deutsche Bahn Engineering. Modernization and Its Discontents According to official information, the total cost of the modernization amounted to approximately GEL 1 billion. The project covered building 40 kilometers of new railway infrastructure, including 90 kilometers of new track. The works also included the construction of the 8,300-meter dual-tube tunnel near Kvishkheti, 10 bridges, six tunnels, and around 100 engineering structures. “Modern safety, signaling, centralization, and blocking systems were installed. Modernized substations and three new stations were also built,” the promotional clip screened during the December 24 ceremony announced. As a result, “traffic has been optimized, increasing the conditional length of freight trains from 47 to 57 wagons, and their weight from 2,800 tons to 3,600 tons.” The clip further stated that the elimination of the mountainous operating mode reduced freight travel time by four hours, while travel time through the mountainous section fell by 40-50 minutes, and operating costs dropped by 10%. Overall, railway capacity rose from 27 million tons to 48 million tons per year. The modernization works, however, have attracted controversy in recent months. Residents of Khemaghali, Gverki, and Lashe, villages along the mountainous Zestaponi–Kharagauli–Khashuri section, complained in 2025 that disastrous landslides and soil erosion, which led to the evacuation of several families, were caused by railway modernization works, including tunnel-related blasts. They alleged, among other things, that cutting the mountain slope near Khemaghali, intended to straighten winding sections of the track, destabilized the terrain, and contributed to the damage. In October 2025, locals also filed a complaint with the Asian Development Bank, but the Bank’s Compliance Review Panel dismissed it, stating that the “complaint falls outside of the scope of the compliance review function, since the allegations of harms are not related to ADB-financed components of the project.” Tbilisi’s Middle Corridor Ambitions The completion comes as Georgia actively promotes its role in the Middle Corridor, a multimodal transit route linking Europe and Asia while bypassing Russia. Although Georgia has been involved in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) project for more than a decade, the corridor has drawn growing interest since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Moscow’s resulting international isolation. Embracing the newly found role, Tbilisi elevated it to a central theme of both its economic and political discourse, framing it as a pillar of what it calls a “pragmatic” and “sovereign” foreign policy amid growing estrangement from the West. “This is not merely an infrastructure upgrade; it is a clear political and strategic choice made by Georgia to secure its future, strengthen its economic resilience, and establish a decent place in global processes,” Kobakhidze said. “Our future lies in our intermodal transit function, which integrates all modes of transport into a single ecosystem,” he noted, listing other major transport projects such as Anaklia Deep Sea Port and East-West highway infrastructure. * 25/09/2025 – Kavelashvili Talks ‘Multipolar’ Order, ‘Ultimatums’, Peace, and Middle Corridor at UNGA He added that the government aims to make Georgia “a key, reliable and indispensable link” in the Middle Corridor, ensuring “fast, safe and uninterrupted movement of goods” and positioning the route as “the most reliable, secure and efficient corridor in the region.” Georgian Dream’s Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili echoed these sentiments, pointing to already increased cargo traffic and unveiling plans for major infrastructure projects in the coming years. “We already have several tangible achievements, including a 40% increase in cargo turnover between Georgia and China in the January–October period of this year,” she said, announcing that in 2026, Georgia will start the active phase of construction of the Anaklia deep-sea port and complete the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project. Georgia’s prospects as a major regional transit hub have grown more uncertain following the announcement of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a transit link connecting mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through southern Armenia. If completed amid the ongoing peace process, the route would link Azerbaijan with Armenia and Turkey while bypassing Georgia, potentially diminishing its role as a key corridor. Also Read: * 18/12/2025 – Azerbaijan Sends First-in-Decades Fuel Shipment to Armenia by Train via Georgia * 10/12/2025 – Tbilisi Distances Itself From Reports of Transit Hub Construction in Abkhazia * 08/12/2025 – Azerbaijani Media Accuse Georgia of Border Delays, Tariff Pressure

The Court of Appeal reduced the term of administrative arrest of the activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Murad Sultanli.

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) said the country’s international reserves exceeded USD 5.8 billion after increasing by USD 308.2 million through foreign currency purchases in November. According to NBG’s data, monthly purchases amounted to USD 101.7 million in March, USD 266.4 million in April, USD 245.4 million in May, USD 266 million in June, USD 416.9 million in July, USD 199.6 million in August, USD 100 million in September, USD 167.4 million in October, and USD 308.2 in November, all through the Bmatch trading platform. In total, the National Bank made net purchases of USD 2.2 billion between January and November 2025. The National Bank reiterated that “international foreign exchange reserves are an important guarantee of a country’s macroeconomic stability” and that it increases reserves “when market conditions allow.” Updated figures on foreign exchange market operations will be released on January 26, 2026. The steady refilling of reserves follows NBG’s major foreign currency interventions in 2024, when the Bank sold more than USD 900 million amid mass protests over the Foreign Agents Law in the spring and again ahead of the crucial October 26 parliamentary elections. Also Read: * 25/11/2025 – National Bank Says International Reserves Exceed $5.6 Billion After October Purchase of $167 Million * 25/09/2025 – National Bank Says International Reserves Up by $1.5 billion in 2025 * 16/09/2025 – One Person Detained Over Alleged Scheme of Laundering up to $700 Million * 29/07/2025 – NBG Replenishes International Reserves as IMF Praises Georgia’s ‘Resilience’

A Georgian dance studio has inspired a group of Ukrainians living in Prague. The school's adult troupe is made up of mostly Ukrainian women with a passion for Georgian culture. One performer, who fled the war in Ukraine, says Georgian dance reminds her of her own national traditions. Another told RFE/RL that she found love through the vibrant Georgian custom.

A court in occupied Tskhinvali/South Ossetia has ordered two months of pretrial detention for Tamar Mearakishvili, a Georgian citizen and civic activist charged with espionage, Sapa media agency reported. The hearing reportedly took place behind closed doors on December 24, with journalists and the defendant’s family members barred from attending. The activist rejects the allegations and has declared the hunger strike, Sapa reported. The activist has been charged under Article 276 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which covers espionage and foresees 10 to 20 years in jail when “committed by a foreign national or a stateless person.” Mearakishvili’s arrest “is a continuation of eight years of persecution and harassment practices against her,” Social Justice Center (SJC), a Georgian human rights group that has represented the activist’s interests, said in a statement on December 23. The group said Tskhinvali de facto authorities have “kept her in total isolation for eight years and left her without documents necessary for travel.” Tskhinvali reported Mearakishvili’s detention late on December 22, with Georgia’s State Security Service telling Civil.ge that “intensive communication” is underway regarding her case. De facto authorities alleged that Mearakishvili was “suspected of passing information to foreign media outlets affiliated with the Georgian special services” and “the media used the citizen in propaganda activities to promote the interests of Georgia and its Western partners.” Shortly before her arrest, Mearakishvili criticised local de facto authorities on social media, saying she was “forced to begin a hunger strike,” due to what she described as “the arbitrary actions of the authorities, complete disregard of the civil service law, labor legislation, and violation of my rights.” Mearakishvili, an outspoken civic activist who has also worked as a journalist for various media outlets in the past, has faced arrest and prosecution before. She was briefly detained in 2017, accused of spreading defamatory information against local de facto authorities, and later also prosecuted on allegations of fabricating official documents by claiming “South Ossetian” citizenship without renouncing Georgian citizenship. In 2019, however, a court in Akhalgori lifted charges against her. “Despite constant harassment, Tamar has never ceased to criticise local structures – she publicly exposed them in corruption and right violations, which has become a ground for another detention,” SJC said. Also Read: * 05/10/2025 – Sokhumi Detains Georgian National in Gali on ‘Espionage’ Charges * 09/04/2020 – Amnesty Int’l: Tskhinvali Authorities Must Stop Persecuting Outspoken Journalists

The United States will provide USD 10.4 million in communications equipment and other related goods as a grant to Georgia’s Ministry of Defense, according to a decree signed by the Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on December 22. “The authority is granted to the Ministry of Defense of Georgia to receive communications equipment and other types of goods defined by the grants allocated to the Ministry of Defense of Georgia by the Government of the United States of America,” the decree states. The approval covers the transfer of goods under five separate grant programs – PB-B-WFK, DT-B-WAZ, PB-B-WFJ, DT-B-WBC, and DT-B-WBA – with a total value of USD 10,431,459.90, according to the decree. No additional details were provided regarding the delivery timeline or operational use of the U.S.-supplied equipment. The grant comes amid Georgian Dream’s tightening oversight of Western-funded assistance, including the adoption of a Georgian version of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and amendments to grant legislation requiring foreign donors to obtain government approval before disbursing funds to local entities in Georgia. The restrictions mainly target non-governmental and media organizations. It also arrives against the backdrop of a continued rupture in U.S.-Georgia relations. In November 2024, Washington suspended its Strategic Partnership with Georgia, and later imposed sanctions on Georgian officials and ruling Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. Since returning to the office in January 2025, the Trump administration has largely remained silent on Georgia, despite Georgian Dream’s efforts to present itself as ideologically aligned with Trump and repeated messages about Tbilisi’s willingness to reset relations. Also Read: * 28/05/2025 – Ivanishvili Says Sanctions, “Blackmail” Behind His Refusal to Meet U.S. Diplomat * 21/05/2025 – U.S. Secretary of State Rubio Calls Georgian Dream an “Anti-American Government”, Warns of Consequences

Several protesters reported being summoned by a court over administrative proceedings for “obstructing movement of people” during a December 17 sidewalk rally in Tbilisi, in what appears to be the first direct enforcement of stricter laws that extend protest restrictions to pedestrian areas. They now face up to 15 days of administrative detention, with their court hearings scheduled for December 25 and 26. “A new wave of intimidation and repression has begun,” Ani Akhmeteli, a protester, wrote on Facebook on December 24, publishing copies of the police report. “Today I received a call from the City Court, accusing me of violating Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences,” Akhmeteli noted, referring to the amendments adopted in December and imposing restrictions on protesting on the sidewalk, among others. A copy of the police report published by Akhmeteli shows her being accused of “deliberately obstructing people’s traffic” during the parliament rally on December 17, minutes after police issued a “warning.” According to the report, video evidence “shows a citizen who at 20:35 stands on the sidewalk and obstructs the movement of people.” Daily parliament rallies on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue have been largely taking place on sidewalks after police started pushing demonstrators off the road in November and detained over a hundred demonstrators for “blocking the road.” The ruling Georgian Dream party, however, fast-tracked further restrictions in December, introducing an advance notice rule for planned rallies and limiting rallies that “obstruct” the people’s traffic, among others. The amendments mandate police to issue binding instructions changing the location or route of planned assemblies. Failure to notify police, comply with binding instructions, or clear the road or sidewalks upon police order may result in administrative detention of up to 15–20 days, and criminal liability carrying a sentence of up to one year if repeated. Following the law’s entry into force, police officials warned protesters in person and later, on December 17, ordered them to disperse from the sidewalk in front of the parliament, but protesters have ignored the warnings.  On December 22, the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued binding formal warnings to protest organizers, instructing them to confine rallies on Rustaveli Avenue to the parliament stairs and “adjacent areas” and “not to obstruct the movement of transport or people.” Also Read: * 14/11/2025 – OSCE/ODIHR Calls for Repeal of Georgia’s New Protest Laws * 01/11/2025 – Protester Faces Up to One Year in Jail After Police Arrests Him for ‘Repeat Road-Blocking’ * 01/11/2025 – MIA: 29 Detained in Five Days For Blocking Rustaveli Avenue

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan partially upheld the appeal of Kanal-11 head Teymur Kerimov, reducing his prison sentence by two more years, to five. His defense maintains Kerimov's innocence and now plans to appeal to the ECHR.

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called on law enforcement bodies and parliament to probe what he described as excessively high grocery prices, suggesting price hikes may be due to possible cartel-like coordination among retailers, and warning anti-monopoly measures. In a three-minute video address, Kobakhidze said comparative analysis revealed stark price differences between Georgian and European supermarkets, with some everyday products costing nearly three times more domestically. “Comparing prices in chain supermarkets of the same international brand in Georgia and France, the price of a specific brand of sunflower oil in Georgia is 34% higher, pasta 97% higher, rice 180% higher, butter 30% higher, cheese 42% higher, and chocolate 47% higher,” Kobakhidze said. Kobakhidze attributed these differences to what he called excessive markups averaging 86% from Georgia’s border to store shelves. He said some Georgian retail chains report net profit margins of 7% to 14%, compared to 2% in Europe, despite higher operating costs there. Distributor net profit margins in Georgia, he added, range between 6% and 13.5%. The financial burden placed on suppliers, he said, is so heavy that “for Georgian producers it is often more profitable not to sell their products in Georgian retail chains, but to export them abroad.” Kobakhidze also pointed to the rapid expansion of the retail sector, noting that the number of supermarket chains has doubled over the past five years. Georgia now has 113 supermarkets per 100,000 people, compared with 45 in Germany and 62 in Austria. Among the factors potentially driving higher prices, Kobakhidze listed “the so-called ‘chain cashback,’ an entry fee charged for getting a product into a store, delays in payments to distributors or producers, the abundance of stores, and the reflection of new store opening costs in [product] prices.” He noted that the current market dynamics raise concerns that market players “may be acting in coordination, on cartel principles, which, naturally, requires additional analysis.” He pledged that the government will actively engage with distributors and retail chains to push prices down. “If necessary, we will also use anti-monopoly mechanisms that have been tested in various countries,” Kobakhidze said. He called on law enforcement agencies to “study the issue in depth and determine whether there are signs of a criminal offense in the activities of specific entities. I also want to ask the Parliament of Georgia to establish a parliamentary commission that will use the relevant parliamentary levers to assess the matter.” The disputed Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili welcomed the initiative, saying that once the spring session opens, they will establish a special commission to “conduct a public examination of food price formation.” Critics, however, have suspected possible repressive motives behind the initiative. Roman Gotsiridze, an economist and former president of Georgia’s National Bank, dismissed the initiative as “a crackdown on retail chains,” warning that Kobakhidze’s call on law enforcement to intervene over price increases in supermarkets “represents an expansion of repression into the business sector” and a revival of the Soviet-era system. “The next step will be the establishment of direct state control over business, as seen in Belarus and similar countries. Soon, the principles of a free market economy will be replaced by the ideology of ‘state capitalism,'” he argued. Longstanding Concerns High grocery prices have long remained among key economic concerns for Georgian households. Rising food prices remain a key driver of inflation in the country. Per official data, annual inflation stood at 4.8% in November, fueled largely by a 10.3% increase in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices. Kobakhidze’s intervention follows earlier attempts by the ruling Georgian Dream party to rein in price pressures. In 2023, under then-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who now faces corruption charges, the government was ordered to introduce new reforms after a study he commissioned found that some imported food products were sold with markups of up to 100%. At the time, he argued that “one can’t be permitted to get rich at the expense of the people like this, this is wrong behavior.” Earlier, Georgian authorities had also tried to crack down on high medication prices, including through facilitating drug imports from Turkey, tightening prescription rules by requiring doctors to prescribe medicines by generic names, and introducing reference pricing for more than 5,000 medications. Also Read: * 19/12/2025 – Georgia’s GDP Up 6.4% in Q3 2025 * 08/09/2025 – GD Cabinet Meets After Summer Break as Kobakhidze Touts Progress on Economy, Crime

A new journalistic investigation by iFact collective suggests that Russian oil products may be reaching the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Greece through Georgia, with the trade handled by companies with ties to the ruling Georgian Dream party and Russian business circles. “Evidence suggests that three Georgian companies import petroleum products from Russia and export petroleum products, partially or fully produced there, to Europe,” iFact said, citing a “six-month investigation” and jump in such exports since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The report, published on December 19, draws on iFact’s January 2025 investigation into statistical inconsistencies surrounding such exports. The new report is based on an analysis of national and international trade databases, tanker-tracking data, and other sources. Exports to the Netherlands iFact says findings of their investigation “strongly suggest” the oil cargo in 2024 followed the Russia-Uzbekistan-Georgia-Netherlands route. “From the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine until November 2025, Georgia exported a total of 110,000 tons — or roughly 790,000 barrels — of oil and oil products to the Netherlands. More than half of this, about 430,000 barrels, was sent in 2024,” the outlet says, noting that the trade was handled by Geo Logistic LLC, a Georgian company co-owned by the father-in-law of the son of the currently jailed ex-Deputy Minister of Economy Romeo Mikautadze. According to iFact, while the company officially imports oil products from Uzbekistan, the mismatch in trade stats and data from international platforms suggests Uzbekistan may serve as a transit route for Russian oil bound for Georgia. The report says that Uzbekistan does not produce enough oil products to meet domestic needs, and is increasingly dependent on petrol imports from Russia. It also cites data from Volza, a global trade intelligence platform, which shows 63,000 tons of oil products from Russian Rosneft received by an Uzbek company SDK GROUP AND, but marked for Georgia, with a “Georgian entity” making a USD 61.4 million payment. The report further points at mismatch between the official data of Uzbekistan and Georgia, with Georgia recording larger imports than Uzbekistan exported. iFact suggests Uzbekistan did not record the data “because it only temporarily received this cargo from Russia, stored it, and sent it for transit.” Another “anomaly” identified in the report is that while most of the oil and oil products from Uzbekistan were imported by Geo Logistic LLC, the company does not appear as an importer or exporter in any international databases. Citing an explanation from the Geostat, National Statistics Office of Georgia, the report suggests Geo Logistic formally handles imports and then re-exports for non-Georgia-registered companies. Another inconsistency, according to iFact, is that while Georgia reports exporting 60,000 tons of oil and oil products to the Netherlands in 2024, Dutch import records reflect only 10,900 tons. The report suggests the rest may have been distributed through “triangular trade and resale: to other companies in other countries, through the so-called “Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer,” where the goods can be sold directly from the sea before the tanker enters the Dutch territory, or the cargo simply being excluded from import statistics because it is designated for transit. Exports to Switzerland According to iFact, Switzerland was the second-largest European destination for Georgian oil product exports between 2022 and 2024, with shipments totaling 39,000 tons. The outlet says that its analysis identified ZD Oil Company as both an importer of Russian oil products and an exporter of oil products to Switzerland. Another company, Ge Trade, appeared in Swiss-bound export data only in 2024. Swiss oil trading firm PETROVECTOR also stated in its 2024 report that ZD Oil Company was its only supplier from Georgia. Founded in 2013, ZD Oil Company has ranked among Georgia’s top oil product exporters since 2020. The company is registered in Georgia, its director is Badri Butkhuzi, while ownership is split between Davit Kapanadze (55%) and Gabriel Nazarashvili (45%), both of whom hold dual Russian-Georgian citizenship, iFact reported. iFact also alleged different links of ZD Oil Company with the ruling Georgian Dream party, including through party donations, as well as business ties of its owners and managers with family members of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Butkhuzi confirmed to iFact the company exports oil products to Switzerland, saying it sells to various buyers, including Swiss and Dubai-based firms. While ZD Oil Company says it primarily processes oil extracted in Georgia, iFact’s analysis shows that the company imported crude oil and oil products from Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Belarus, and Turkmenistan between 2020 and 2024. Commenting on Russian imports, Butkhuzi told iFact that the company began import-export operations in 2017–2018 and said that products purchased from Russia were “additives used in the production of high-quality gasoline,” rather than “oil, diesel, or gasoline.” However, iFact noted that Butkhuzi later acknowledged in a written reply importing oil products from Russia and exporting the resulting fuel oil (mazut) to Switzerland, describing Swiss exports as “a source of pride” and procurement from Russia as “a matter of absolute necessity.” Butkhuzi explained that additives are required to meet Georgian and international standards, and since such additives are not produced domestically, they are purchased from various countries, including Russia, China, and European states. While Butkhuzi did not name the Russian suppliers, iFact said customs and trade data indicate imports in 2023–2024 from Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat, Gazprom Export, Taif-NK, Tatneft, and Ural Petrochemical Company. iFact also noted a discrepancy regarding the additives mentioned by the company. Imports of such additives, classified under HS code 3811, do not appear in either GeoStat or Volza data for ZD Oil Company between 2020 and 2024, contradicting the company’s explanation. Exports to Greece iFact also identified sharp increase in Georgian oil and oil product exports to Greece following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the investigation, Georgia exported no oil or oil products to Greece before 2019. Between 2019 and 2022, exports totaled 8,300 tons, but surged to 37,000 tons in 2023–2024. According to the report, before 2022, shipments to Greece were recorded as re-exports, but since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, all exports have been classified as local, indicating domestic processing or extraction. Given Georgia’s limited oil extraction, iFact said the figures imply that the oil products were processed entirely within the country. Analysing GeoStat data on oil and oil product exports to Greece in 2023–2024, iFact concluded that all 37,000 tons can be attributed to RUSTAVOIL, registered in 2016 and running a refinery in Rustavi. According to iFact, to build the refinery, the company received a 10-hectare plot of land valued at GEL half a million from the state at a symbolic price of GEL 1. Citing financial data, iFact notes a sharp rise in RUSTAVOIL’s revenues during the same period, while its export growth coincided with a surge in imports from Russia, which increased twentyfold compared to the previous two years in 2023-2024. According to iFact, the company’s largest shareholder is Kakhi Zhordania, who held a 33% stake as of October 27. Zhordania is the son of Maka Asatiani, the owner of Black Sea Petroleum, which operates the newly launched Kulevi refinery on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. The refinery has recently drawn controversy after receiving a shipment of Russian oil. The cargo was supplied by the Russian oil company Russneft, which has since been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, while the tanker Kayseri that transported the oil was added to the EU sanctions list shortly after the reported delivery. Georgian media outlets and watchdog groups have traced alleged links between Zhordania and his stepfather, Kote Gogelia, and Russian oil business circles, including Zhordania’s reported business ties with Sergei Alekseev, the son of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev, the First Deputy Chief of Russia’s military intelligence service (GRU). Also Read: * 19/12/2025 – UK Calls on Georgia to Curb Russian Oil Imports Amid Wider Sanctions * 05/12/2025 – TI-Georgia: Kulevi Oil Refinery May Raise Sanctions Evasion Suspicions in West

The 129th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held on December 22 in the village of Ergneti, near the occupation line with Georgia’s Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region. The meeting was co-facilitated by Bettina Patricia Boughani, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and Christoph Späti, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus. SSSG’s Statement The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) stated that “all important incidents” along the occupation line that occurred since the previous IPRM meeting were discussed. As in previous meetings, “representatives of the State Security Service once again demanded the punishment of those responsible for the killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi.” The SSSG said its representatives also “placed particular emphasis” on the issue of persons held in illegal detention, demanding their immediate release. According to the agency, the discussions also focused on the illegal restriction of freedom of movement and cases of so-called borderization. Ahead of the meeting, Irakli Antadze, deputy head of the State Security Service of Georgia’s analytical department, told reporters that during the reporting period, 11 people have been detained and two cases of so-called borderization were recorded. He said the incidents occurred near the village of Kvemo Khviti in Gori Municipality and the occupied village of Artsevi. EUMM, OSCE Statements Participants at the final IPRM meeting of 2025 reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the format, stressing its importance for security and humanitarian issues along Georgia’s dividing lines, according to co-facilitators of the talks. “Participants discussed all recent security developments and challenges faced by conflict-affected communities, including restrictions on freedom of movement and safeguarding energy infrastructure and supply,” the press release said. “Discussions also touched upon the resolution of cases of lost livestock through rapid exchange of information by using the hotline.” The co-facilitators reiterated concern over “the continued practice of detentions,” saying it “negatively impacted perceptions of the security of local population.” They called for “a prompt resolution of the detention cases, including through a humanitarian approach,” and emphasized that “increased movement across the Administrative Boundary Line would help build trust and enhance the sense of security among local communities.” In this context, the co-facilitators advocated extending the December opening of controlled crossing points into January, saying it would “facilitate increased movement during the holiday season.” Such an extension, they said, would allow families separated by the ABL to reunite, take part in religious celebrations and maintain “essential social connections during this time traditionally devoted to family gatherings.” Participants also commended “the excellent operation of the EUMM-managed Hotline,” describing it as an effective tool for sharing “reliable and timely information on security and humanitarian matters.” De Facto Authorities’ Statement Igor Kochiev, the de facto representative of the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region, briefed reporters after the meeting, saying that IPRM meetings remain an effective platform for maintaining a stable and predictable situation. “Within the IPRM, we promptly resolve issues that arise on the ground, working directly with the population and Georgian counterparts,” Kochiev said. “Urgent and sensitive issues are raised promptly, and concrete decisions are made on them, which helps maintain a calm and more predictable situation.” Kochiev also claimed that since the previous meeting, one alleged violation by a Georgian citizen had been recorded. He also told journalists that the EUMM reported two violations, saying one may have occurred due to insufficient situational awareness, possibly linked to the rotation of observers. The next IPRM meeting is scheduled to take place on February 4, 2026. Also Read: * 17/12/2025 – GD Adopts Laws Ending Voting for Georgians Abroad, Scrapping Anti-Corruption Bureau, ‘South Ossetia Administration’ * 19/11/2025 – 128th Ergneti IPRM Meeting * 13/11/2025 – 65th Round of Geneva International Discussions * 12/11/2025 – Ex-PM Gakharia Charged in Absentia Over ‘Gavrilov’s Night,’ Chorchana Tensions

Former head of Georgia’s State Security Service Grigol Liluashvili has been arrested on bribery charges involving multiple alleged schemes, including those related to Georgia’s infamous scam call centers. He faces 11 to 15 years in prison. The arrest follows a broader series of prosecutions targeting former Georgian Dream officials, particularly targeting figures linked to Liluashvili and former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who is currently free on bail while facing trial on serious money-laundering charges. Liluashvili, who led SSSG since 2019 before his resignation in April 2025, has been charged under Article 338, Parts 2 and 3 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which cover taking a bribe “on a particularly large scale” by a prearranged group. According to Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze, who announced the arrest during a December 23 press briefing, the first instance of bribery occurred in October 2022, when Liluashvili allegedly received USD1 million from Turkish investor Cagatay Ulker. The transaction was mediated by Romeo Mikautadze, who was the first deputy economy minister at the time and is currently in jail on corruption charges. “The purpose of the payment was to secure lobbying support for the signing of a memorandum of cooperation related to the construction of wind power plants,” Gvarakidze said. A second episode occurred in February 2022, the general prosecutor said, when Liluashvili, again through Mikautadze, “demanded and received 1.5 million GEL (USD 558,893)” from businessman Giorgi Khazhalia, founder of Expressservice 2008, in exchange for assistance in gasification tenders. A third set of allegations concerns activities between 2021 and 2023 linked to scam call centers. Gvarakidze said, “a smaller portion of the call centers was primarily protected by Grigol Liluashvili,” adding that the alleged protection was carried out through his relative, Sandro Liluashvili. “As a result of the aforementioned criminal activity, Grigol Liluashvili received approximately 1,365,000 USD in bribes through the mediation of Sandro Liluashvili,” the prosecutor general said. Gvarakidze further claimed that many of the call centers were owned by individuals who used the proceeds “to finance various opposition media outlets.” Investigators are examining what he described as a scheme in which Liluashvili and accomplices allegedly ensured that “the existence of scam call centers financing opposition media outlets was not exposed.” In return, he said, those outlets “refrained from covering information about the fraudulent call centers operating under Liluashvili’s protection, despite having knowledge of this information.” A fourth episode involves allegations that Liluashvili abused his official position to protect a close associate, Kakhaber Gvantseladze, the former head of Tbilisi City Hall’s Agency for the Management of Preschool Institutions. “By abusing his official position and in exchange for receiving bribes, Grigol Liluashvili provided protection to his friend,” Gvarakidze said, alleging that Gvantseladze received large kickbacks from businesses connected to procurement contracts for kindergartens. “Within the aforementioned criminal scheme involving Liluashvili and Gvantseladze, Kakhaber Gvantseladze had also involved employees of the Agency responsible for financial accounting and settlements, as well as monitoring staff. Decisions have been issued against all of them to bring criminal charges as defendants,” Gvarakidze added. Broader Crackdown Liluashvili’s arrest comes amid Georgia Dream’s declared anti-corruption drive, which also targeted the close circle of ex-SSSG chief, including the arrest of his associates Andria Liluashvili and Koba Khundadze on money-laundering charges in October. More recently, prosecutors said Bichiko Paikidze, a businessman and former ruling party municipal councilor also linked to Liluashvili, was arrested in Barcelona after being placed on an international wanted list. Critics, however, have questioned the sincerity of the GD’s anti-corruption efforts, seeing it rather as part of internal retributions and power struggles targeting Liluashvili and Garibashvili. Also Read: * 30/10/2025 – TI-Georgia: Elite Corruption ‘Remains Widespread’ Despite GD’s Crackdown on Ex-Officials * 22/10/2025 – SSSG: Former PM Irakli Garibashvili Admitted Receiving Illicit Income * 23/07/2025 – Georgian Dream Resignation Streak: Who Left and Why * 14/07/2025 – Georgian Dream’s Ex-Officials and Business Associates in Hot Water

De facto authorities in Russia-occupied Tskhinvali have arrested Tamar Mearakishvili, a Georgian citizen and civic activist, accusing her of “espionage.” The Georgian State Security Service told Civil.ge Tskhinvali confirmed “the illegal arrest” of Mearakishvili, “a Georgian citizen permanently residing in the occupied territory,” adding “intensive communication” is underway on the issue. RES, a media outlet run by de facto authorities, reported late on December 22 that Tskhinvali’s de facto prosecutors opened a criminal probe against a Georgian citizen under Article 276 of the Russian criminal code, which covers espionage. “According to the investigation, a Georgian citizen staying in South Ossetia collected and transmitted information about strategically important objects in the republic, thereby threatening the country’s security,” RES reported. While the media report did not specify the name, human rights advocates in Tbilisi confirmed Mearakishvili’s detention. “Illegal actions against Tamar Mearakishvili have continued for years by the local regime,” Ucha Nanuashvili, former Georgian Public Defender, wrote on Facebook, noting that “persecution of critical citizens is reaching new levels in the region.” Nanuashvili called on Tbilisi and the international community to “urgently” start working to free Mearakishvili. Mearakishvili, an outspoken civic activist who in the past has also worked as a journalist for different media outlets, has faced arrest and prosecution before. She was briefly detained in 2017, accused of spreading defamatory information against local de facto authorities, and later also prosecuted on allegations of fabricating official documents by claiming “South Ossetian” citizenship without renouncing Georgian citizenship. In 2019, however, a court in Akhalgori lifted charges against her. Also Read: * 05/10/2025 – Sokhumi Detains Georgian National in Gali on ‘Espionage’ Charges * 09/04/2020 – Amnesty Int’l: Tskhinvali Authorities Must Stop Persecuting Outspoken Journalists

A court ordered Zurab Japaridze, leader of the opposition Girchi – More Freedom party, to pay GEL 30,000 (about USD 11,000) in bail in a pending “sabotage” case, at a hearing held days after his release from prison, where he had served a sentence on separate charges of defying Georgian Dream’s parliamentary commission. Granting the prosecutor’s request, Tbilisi City Court judge Teona Epitashvili gave the politician 30 days to post the bail, ordered the confiscation of his passport and personal ID, and restricted his right to leave the country without the prosecutor’s consent. Japaridze told the journalists after the hearing that he has not yet decided whether to post the bail. “It’s not only about me. My move may now determine, among others, what other politicians will have to do later, so I have to think things over,” he said. Japaridze left jail early on December 19 after seven months behind bars. On December 22, he said a hearing was scheduled in another criminal case against him, where he faces charges of “sabotage” and aiding a foreign country in hostile activities, punishable by seven to 15 years in prison if convicted. In the earlier case that led to his conviction for defying the ruling party’s parliamentary commission, the so-called Tsulukiani commission, the politician refused to post bail and was placed in pre-trial detention. Other jailed politicians, including Ahali’s Nika Melia and Nika Gvaramia and Droa’s Elene Khoshtaria, Japaridze’s allies in the Coalition for Change, have also previously declined to post bail. There have, however, been calls from supporters to change the principled position, citing the need for opposition leaders to use their freedom to be more actively involved in the current resistance. Seven other opposition figures were indicted alongside Japaridze in November in the “sabotage” case, including Melia, Gvaramia, Khoshtaria, and Strategy Agmashenebeli’s Giorgi Vashadze, all of whom remain behind bars on separate charges. Two others – Lelo/Strong Georgia’s Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze – were ordered to pay GEL 1 million (about USD 370,000) each in the same case. The two had also been convicted for defying the Tsulukiani commission but were released early after Georgian Dream-elected president Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned them, citing their decision to run in the partially boycotted municipal elections in October. Also Read: * 26/11/2025 – Nika Melia Sentenced to 1.5 Years for Splashing Water at Judge * 15/09/2025 – Elene Khoshtaria Detained Amid Criminal Probe on ‘Damaging’ Kaladze Banners

The board of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Georgia’s leading human rights group, elected Tamar Oniani as its new chairperson on December 22, replacing Nona Kurdovanidze after her tenure expired. Kurdovanidze had led the organization for three years, and the GYLA charter does not allow chairs to run for re-election after their term expires. Before her election as chairperson, Oniani held several senior positions within GYLA. Since 2023, she has served as director of the Human Rights Program, and since 2022, as deputy chair and a member of the organization’s board. Oniani has also led GYLA’s international litigation team, representing and supervising human rights cases before the European Court of Human Rights. GYLA notes that Oniani has served as lead researcher on more than twenty legal studies, is the co-author of several legal manuals, and the author and co-author of articles, including publications in peer-reviewed journals, blogs, and op-eds. Established in 1994, GYLA is among Georgia’s most reputable human rights watchdogs, leading advocacy efforts under successive governments and representing major human rights cases domestically and in international venues, including the European Court of Human Rights. It has also been among the key watchdogs to observe Georgia’s elections for many years. Also Read: * 10/12/2025 – GYLA: 2025 Was Year of ‘Curtailed Freedoms’ in Georgia * 06/12/2017 – GYLA Elects New Chairperson

Georgian officials defended a “sovereign” and “pragmatic” foreign policy and railed against “external interference” as the annual Ambassadors’ Conference kicked off on December 22, a gathering bringing together Georgian diplomats and coming amid the country’s continued isolation from its traditional Western partners. The conference, set to run through December 25, was addressed by Georgian Dream officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, as well as a representative of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The conference follows recent purges in the Georgian Foreign Ministry and diplomatic service, with dozens losing their jobs in what is widely seen as politically motivated dismissals of personnel critical of the ruling party. Botchorishvili Talks ‘Strengthening Sovereign Foreign Policy’ Opening the conference, GD Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili thanked Georgian diplomats for their service, saying they work in “a very difficult, rapidly changing, and often unpredictable environment.” “The existing security challenges, geopolitical shifts, and growing uncertainty further increase the responsibility we bear to effectively implement Georgia’s foreign policy priorities,” she said. Botchorishvili stressed that diplomatic resilience is important for Georgia, whose “greatest security challenge is the occupation of two regions and the peaceful restoration of territorial integrity.” She highlighted recent economic developments, saying: “International trade turnover is increasing, Georgia’s position in regional transit and logistics is strengthening, and investor interest in our country is growing. The contribution of the foreign service to these achievements is substantial.” She noted that those new opportunities also bring new challenges, which “require strengthening a sovereign foreign policy, a deeper understanding of the country’s interests, and more effective use of diplomatic instruments.” Then Botchorishvili pointed to what she described as growing “external interference” that Georgia faces. “In recent times, external interference aimed at undermining the country’s political choice, stability, and the credibility of its institutions has posed a significant challenge for Georgia. To counter actions carried out through hybrid methods, disinformation, political and economic pressure, and encouragement of polarization, to respond to false narratives and to defend Georgia’s national interests, the country’s foreign service represents a critical line,” she said. Botchorishvili went on to decry what she called “artificial obstacles created by the former president and the difficulties imposed on Georgia’s diplomatic service,” noting that 36 heads of diplomatic missions were appointed in 2025, which she said “is vitally important for the proper functioning of the diplomatic service.” She then addressed what she called a “fundamental reform” in the diplomatic service. “Alongside experienced diplomats, Georgia needs a young, educated generation well adapted to modern requirements, which will loyally engage in defending the country’s interests on the international stage,” she said, adding that the reform aims to create “a strong, flexible, and effective foreign service as possible to protect national interests and implement the government’s priorities.” Kobakhidze Stresses ‘Rational and Pragmatic Policy’ Noting ongoing “fundamental changes in the global international system,” GD Prime Irakli Kobakhidze spoke about the “vital importance” of “international relations based on rational and pragmatic policy.” “Through our principled position, we managed to protect national interests and maintain the country’s stability, preserving peace. I want to stress that the peace we enjoy today is not a coincidence, but the result of a conscious and consistent policy,” Kobakhidze said, referring to what he described as attempts by “external forces” to draw Georgia into a military conflict. He linked stability to economic performance, claiming Georgia’s average economic growth stands at 9.8 percent, which he described as the highest in Europe, and highlighted the role of economic diplomacy. He also reiterated that the policy of non-recognition of the occupied territories remains an “unwavering priority.” Concluding his address, Kobakhidze said diplomats are “the voice of Georgia on the international stage  – a voice that must be firm, well-argued, and always oriented toward our country’s national interests.” “This is exactly how our diplomats’ voice was heard on the international stage this year as well, and we are confident that our diplomatic corps will continue its activities with exactly the same dedication next year.” Papuashvili: ‘Georgia First’ Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili focused on “unprecedented external pressure and coercion” towards Georgia in 2025, and argued that events around Georgia are part of a broader confrontation. “Today it is already clear to everyone that the events that unfolded around Georgia are not the result of internal processes, but a projection of regional and global confrontation – in the context of the fourth year of the ongoing war in Ukraine and open competition between superpowers,” he claimed. Papuashvili said “the global security architecture has collapsed” and that the unipolar world order no longer exists, arguing that national interest has become the decisive factor shaping state policy. “The era of post-Cold War international relations has ended. States are intensively seeking a formula for a new balance of power. In this process, each player tries to maximally protect its own interests and maintain favorable positions,” he said. Papuashvili claimed that the United States is abandoning its role as a “world policeman,” and the new American doctrines clearly say that “the era has ended when the US spent its own resources imposing civilizational models on other countries.” He emphasized that many challenges exist in the global arena, saying, “We want the war in Ukraine to end. We want the Ukrainian state to survive. We want lasting peace to prevail. However, we do not know when, in what form, or under what geopolitical arrangement this war will end. We do not know what new order will emerge in the world or what balance of power will be established.” “The only thing we know for certain is that we have no homeland other than Georgia – nothing more than Georgia. Therefore, we must be ready for any challenge, pressure, or resistance. ‘Georgia First’ – this is our main strategy, wisdom, and knowledge, on which every tactical and operational decision must be based,” he continued. Kavelashvili Laments ‘Undeserved Accusations’ Addressing the conference, GD-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili said 2025 had been “difficult and full of challenges,” claiming Georgia faced “undeserved accusations” because of its insistence on sovereignty and peace. “Based on measurable and objective data, in a number of areas Georgia is not only a leader in the region, but also outperforms EU and NATO member states,” Kavelashvili said. Referring to his visits to neighboring countries, the UN, and Serbia, he said they demonstrate that “our foreign policy vector is without alternative. Our priority remains the strengthening of regional and global peace, and open dialogue based on equality, mutual respect, and consideration of national interests.” “I call on each of you to spare no effort in further developing trade and transit connections. This will not only promote global connectivity, but will also restore to Georgia its historical function as a crossroads of civilizations,” Kavelashvili added. Also Read: * 28/12/2024 – 2024 Ambassadorial Papers Over Crisis * 26/12/2023 – Annual Georgian Ambassadors’ Conference Kicks Off in Tbilisi * 26.12.2022 – “Put our Country’s Interest First,” PM Garibashvili Tells the Georgian Ambassadors’ Conference

A group of twelve Georgian civil society organizations said they appealed to key international watchdogs to review what they described as serious human rights violations, including “the use of chemical and experimental crowd-control agents” by law enforcement during November-December 2024 demonstrations in Tbilisi. The CSOs said they informed the Director-General of Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), UN Special Rapporteurs, and Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner about seven episodes where “per existing evidence, law enforcers used chemical substances, including chemical irritants mixed with water cannons and other identified and unidentified toxic and experimental compounds that caused heavy and lasting health damage among the demonstrators.” “We have called on the OPCW director-general to exercise his mandate and consider the possibility of dispatching a fact-finding or investigative mission to Georgia,” said Nino Lomjaria, director of Georgia’s European Orbit, as she read out the joint statement on December 22. “In parallel, we have addressed United Nations special rapporteurs and the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights to ensure a response within their respective mandates, provide international oversight and contribute to establishing the truth in order to protect the rights of those affected,” she added. Lomjaria said the appeal was aimed “not only to investigate possible grave violations committed in the past, but also to prevent future violence and uphold the fundamental principles of international law in Georgia,” adding that those affected have the right to be fully informed about what chemical compounds were used against them during the dispersals. The statement comes weeks after BBC Eye published an investigation alleging the use of “WWI-era” toxic substance camite against Georgian protesters during last year’s pro-EU protests. The findings echoed longstanding concerns raised by protesters, human rights groups and medical professionals, many of whom have reported long-term health complications following exposure during rallies. The ruling Georgian Dream party denied the allegations and threatened to sue the BBC. The officials, however, confirmed a substance, but not camite, was mixed in the water cannons. On December 6, the State Security Service of Georgia said it completed the investigation, concluding the substance used by police against protesters over the years, including during dispersals on December 4-5, was CS gas and said authorities had “never purchased camite.” The agency, however, didn’t specify whether they used any substance on other days of dispersals. The CSOs dismissed the explanation. “The State Security Service’s so-called five-day investigation and the ‘conclusion’ it presented raised questions and suspicions instead of providing answers,” the December 22 statement said, adding that it “once again demonstrated that there is no effective, independent or credible investigative mechanism in Georgia.” Calls for an independent international investigation into the alleged use of toxic chemicals have persisted over the past weeks in Georgia. Concerns were also raised by Michael O’Flaherty, CoE Human Rights Commissioner, who said in a December 10 letter to Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze that while he had been assured during a January visit that police did not deploy water cannons containing chemical irritants, “several officials … have acknowledged that chemical substances were mixed into the water.” --- The signatories of the joint statement include Sapari; Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA); Georgian European Orbit; Prevention for Progress (PFP); Georgian Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT); Democracy Defenders; Civil Society Foundation (CSF); Social Justice Center; Academy of Georgia’s Future; International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED); Transparency International Georgia; Economic Policy Research Center. Also Read: * 03/12/2025 – Georgian State Security Service Summons Those Featured in BBC Report * 02/12/2025 – Georgian Authorities Deny Use of Camite After BBC Investigation * 03/12/2024 – Watchdog Details “Inhuman and Degrading Treatment” Against Protesters by Police * 21/10/2024 – MIA Admits to Mixing Tear Gas in Water Canons During Protests Against Agents’ Law

European Union institutions have agreed on the bloc’s first-ever EU-wide list of “safe countries of origin,” a move that could also apply to EU accession candidates such as Georgia, potentially complicating access to international protection for Georgian asylum seekers amid the country’s anti-democratic turn. On December 18, negotiators from the Danish presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the new framework that would designate Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, and Tunisia as “safe countries.” While Georgia is not explicitly named, the document says the list will also include EU candidate countries, unless specific exceptions apply. Georgia became an EU candidate country in December 2023. Those exceptions include situations where international or internal armed conflict is taking place, where the EU has adopted “restrictive measures” against a country “in questions related to fundamental rights and freedoms,” or where the asylum application recognition rate exceed 20% when assessed by member state authorities. The provisional agreement still requires formal approval by both the Council and Parliament. If confirmed, the EU-wide list is set to apply from June 12, 2026. The agreement follows efforts to establish a more unified EU-wide asylum policy, with the designation allowing for accelerated asylum procedures for citizens of the listed countries, potentially reducing their chances of securing international protection. “The new rules on the application of the safe third country concept will help Member States process asylum applications more swiftly, reduce pressure on asylum systems, and reduce incentives for illegal migration to the EU, while preserving the legal safeguards for applicants and ensuring respect of fundamental rights,” the EU Commission said on December 18, welcoming the provisional agreement. But the decision also comes amid Georgia’s rapid anti-democratic turn, which has drawn criticism and prompted specific responses from Brussels. In its annual visa suspension report published on December 19, the European Commission warned of “appropriate measures” amid Georgia’s failure to meet key benchmarks, including regarding the human rights situation. The measures would cover suspension of visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders first, with the restriction potentially extending to the entire population later. With 14,530 asylum requests in the EU in 2024, the report also marked Georgia among the countries from where the number of asylum applications “decreased considerably” compared to 2023, but “nevertheless remained at considerable levels.” Official statistics show EU-wide recognition rates for first-instance decisions for Georgian citizens at around 4% in 2024 and the first half of 2025. The plan was criticised in the European Parliament and also by international advocacy groups. “We are discussing here democratic backsliding taking place in Georgia, but the Commission, Council, and Parliament are talking about adding Georgia to the safe countries list,” Cecilia Strada, MEP from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, told the European Parliament on December 17 during the debates about “Deepening Democratic Crisis” in Georgia. “What’s being done by the government in Georgia is brutal torture, arrests, repression of opposition, criminalization of the media,” Strada added. Amnesty International warned on December 18 that the EU’s new rules would risk undermining international refugee protections, with Olivia Sundberg Diez, Amnesty’s EU advocate on migration and asylum, calling the move a “shameless attempt to sidestep international legal obligations.” “Changes to the ‘safe third country’ concept will mean that people seeking asylum in the EU may see their applications rejected without review,” Sundberg Diez said. Georgia has been designated as a “safe country” by some individual EU member states, including Germany, where it was added in 2023. The designation, however, has been debated and questioned by local courts. Also in 2023, Belgium removed Georgia from the list of safe countries, while Sweden, another EU country, removed Georgia from a similar list in January 2025. Also Read: * 13/11/2025 – ‘Too Late’: Khangoshvili Family Case Highlights Shift in German Deportation Policy * 22/03/2025 – German Court Questions Georgia is as Safe Country of Origin for Asylum Seekers