Georgian Parliament Passes Controversial Laws Amid Diplomatic Strain; National Football Team Faces Post-Euro Regression
October 15, 2025
October 15, 2025, in Georgia was primarily marked by significant legislative developments and ensuing diplomatic tensions. The Georgian Parliament advanced several controversial legislative packages in their first reading. These include proposals for stricter regulations concerning rallies and manifestations, and a law that would prohibit specific individuals from engaging in party activities, holding political office, and participating in elections. These moves have drawn strong criticism, with the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) deeming the latter unconstitutional and potentially leading to the disappearance of the political spectrum in the long term.
Adding to the political friction, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze canceled a scheduled meeting with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Elina Valtonen, who is also Finland's Foreign Minister. The Georgian government cited Valtonen’s participation in an 'illegal rally' on Rustaveli Avenue and 'false statements' as reasons for the cancellation. Finnish media, however, reported that Valtonen herself initiated the cancellation due to a change in her schedule. During her visit, Valtonen met with protesters and visited the occupation line, which drew sharp rebukes from Georgian officials such as Shalva Papuashvili and Irakli Zarkua. Separately, Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia would not comply with the European Court of Human Rights’ decision regarding compensation for Georgia.
In the realm of sports, the Georgian National Football Team faced a challenging day after suffering significant defeats to Spain and Turkey in World Cup qualifiers. Players and coaching staff expressed disappointment, with star player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia calling for analysis of problems and coach Willy Sagnol noting a perceived loss of 'spark' since the European Championship. Reports also surfaced of difficulties faced by Georgian fans during the Turkey match, including overcrowding and issues with stadium exits.
Despite the national football team's struggles, Georgian athletes achieved notable successes elsewhere. Merab Dvalishvili, the UFC Bantamweight Champion, is set to defend his title against Petr Yan on December 7, aiming for a record-breaking fourth title defense in a single calendar year. Tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili advanced to the 1/8 finals of the Brussels Open, and the "Black Lion" rugby franchise embarked on a South African tour. Internationally, football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continued to break records, with Messi announcing a new U16 'Messi Cup' tournament and Ronaldo advancing his lead in World Cup qualifying goals. Meanwhile, 28 national teams have already secured their spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Economically, the Georgian Lari saw slight fluctuations, with the USD officially valued at 2.7108 GEL. Gold and silver prices experienced an increase of over 4% in the past week on global markets, impacting local costs. A specific type of bread saw a 10 tetri price hike. Furthermore, statistics revealed that 822 individuals were readmitted to Georgia from EU countries over the last three months, predominantly from Germany, highlighting ongoing migration dynamics.