'Whoever enters parliament enters Russia,' Georgian president says
"I am sure that the parties will not enter the parliament ... Today, whoever enters the parliament will enter Russia," Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said on Nov. 22.
Georgia protests
Updated: Georgian police disperse protesters in Tbilisi, 16 detained
Georgian police dispersed a protest in Tbilisi demanding new elections on the eve of Nov. 18, but organizers promised a quick resumption elsewhere.
President of Russian-occupied Abkhazia resigns amid protests
Aslan Bzhania's resignation will take effect once protesters withdraw and disperse from government property, according to an announcement from the Russian proxy leader's press service.
Tbilisi court rejects 11 lawsuits challenging Georgian election results
A Tbilisi court has dismissed all 11 lawsuits filed by Georgian opposition parties and civil society organizations seeking to invalidate protocols issued by district election commissions, News Georgia reported on Nov. 14.
Thousands in Tbilisi rally again in protest of recent parliamentary elections
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered outside Georgia's parliament on Nov. 4 for the second consecutive Monday, protesting the Oct. 26 election, which they allege was rigged with Russian assistance to favor the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Georgia sinks deeper into Russian-style authoritarianism amid stolen election allegations
Georgia's Oct. 26 parliamentary election presented a clear geopolitical choice for the country’s voters, but criticism is mounting that the ruling regime stole the vote. After years of vacillating between the West and Russia and paying lip service to European integration, the country's ruling Georgian Dream party began to
Georgians take to streets in protest as pro-Russian party crowned election winner amid wide-scale fraud
Georgia has descended into political turmoil that is set to shape the country for years to come. Although exit polls indicated that the pro-European opposition coalition would win the Oct. 26 parliament elections, the official results paint a different picture. The Central Election Commission announced on the evening of Oct.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Russia's influence on her country
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili highlights Georgia’s stalled EU accession, rising anti-Western rhetoric, and the ruling party’s troubling alignment with Russian interests, while affirming Georgian people’s support for Ukraine.
US announces sanctions against Georgian officials for human rights abuses
"Today's action underscores our concern about the consequences of anti-democratic actions in Georgia and efforts by key individuals to use violence and intimidation to achieve their aims," said Treasury official Bradley Smith.
Georgian parliament overrules president's veto of foreign agents law
The legislation will now be sent back to President Salome Zourabichvili, who will have five days to sign into law. In the likely situation that she refuses, Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili will be able to sign it into law, after which it will be enacted.
US imposes travel restrictions on politicians 'undermining democracy in Georgia'
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said he is launching a review of U.S.-Georgian relations and voiced hope that Georgia's leaders will reconsider the law.
FT: EU countries push for visa-free travel suspension, other sanctions against Georgia over 'foreign agents ' law
Estonia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Sweden are among several EU countries pushing for sanctions against Georgia in response to its government's passing of the controversial "foreign agents" law, the Financial Times (FT) reported on May 22, citing official sources.
Politico: US considering significant trade, military deals with Georgia if it reverses democratic backsliding
The proposed measures would offer Georgia increased access to U.S. markets, a military support package, and the liberalization of the visa regime for Georgian citizens.
Speaker of Georgian parliament announces plan to overrule president's veto of foreign agents law
Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia's pro-Western president and a political opponent of Georgian Dream, vetoed the law on May 18, but the government has a large enough majority in parliament to overrule it.
Georgian president vetoes 'foreign agents' bill
Georgia's pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili said on May 18 that she vetoed the controversial "foreign agents" bill previously passed by the parliament despite large-scale protests.
FT: EU to freeze Georgia's membership bid if 'foreign agents' law enacted
The bill's introduction into the parliament has led to widespread protests across the country and criticism from the EU and the U.S.
Shares in Georgia's largest banks plummet after US threatens sanctions against top Georgian officials
London-listed shares in the two banks, TBC and Bank of Georgia, plummeted to their lowest single-day declines since the spring of 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Explainer: What's behind ongoing protests in Georgia?
For the past few weeks, thousands of protesters have gathered every night in front of the Georgian parliament in opposition to the controversial foreign agents law that the ruling Georgian Dream party is attempting to pass. The final vote is set to take place on May 14. The law would
Georgian police arrest 2 US citizens at Tbilisi protests
The ministry said that individuals arrested "ignored the legal request of the police" and "violated public order, resisted, and insulted law enforcement officers."
Parliamentary committee takes 1 minute to assess Georgia's foreign agents law
Georgian Parliament's Legal Committee took just 67 seconds to assess and vote on the controversial foreign agents' law. At the same time, most opposition MPs could not join the session, Georgian news outlet Civil Georgia reported on May 13.
Protests continue overnight in Tbilisi ahead of final vote on foreign agents bill
Thousands of protesters remained on the streets of Tbilisi overnight on May 12 ahead of the final reading of the controversial "foreign agents law" in Georgia's parliament on May 14.
Georgian president accuses government of being 'prone to making concessions to Russia'
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili was referring to the controversial foreign agents law, known popularly among its opponents in Georgia as the Russian law, which Georgian Dream is attempting to pass in parliament.
US, EU, UN criticize Georgia's foreign agents bill
"We are deeply concerned about this legislation - what it could do in terms of stifling dissent and free speech," U.S. national security spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing.
Georgian PM refuses to visit US due to condition regarding 'foreign agents' law
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze will not travel to the U.S. because he was invited under the condition that Tbilisi suspend discussions on the controversial "foreign agents" law in parliament, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said on May 2.
Media: At least 8 injured in latest police crackdown on protests in Georgia
The injuries were severe enough to require the hospitalization of the eight individuals, one of whom has already been discharged.
Georgian police arrest 63 demonstrators amid violent crackdown on anti-government protest
Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said that "participants of the rally continued to attack the policemen," in unsubstantiated claims that contradicted both the Kyiv Independent's reporting on the ground and widespread media coverage of the event.
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