Georgia's Political Tensions Rise Amid Opposition Shift, EU Warnings, and Media Arrests
October 20, 2025
The Georgian political landscape experienced significant developments today as the opposition party "Gakharia for Georgia" officially ended its parliamentary boycott, with 12 deputies preparing to enter the 11th convocation of parliament. This decision follows a period of intense political deliberation and comes amidst growing scrutiny from international partners. Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili commented on the recent recall of German Ambassador Peter Fischer for consultations, expressing hope that it signifies a "reset" in bilateral relations. However, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kallas, delivered strong critiques of the Georgian government, stating that its actions against free media, civil society, and demonstrators contravene core European values. She also warned of new regulations in November that could potentially lead to the revocation of visa-free travel for "certain groups."
Concerns over media freedom and the right to peaceful assembly remained a central theme. Two journalists from Formula TV, Vakho Sanaya (detained yesterday) and Keta Tsitskishvili (detained today), were arrested, reportedly for blocking roads during ongoing protests. Sanaya was subsequently sentenced to six days of administrative detention. These arrests drew widespread condemnation from numerous media organizations and international bodies, who viewed them as direct attacks on journalistic independence. Additionally, activists such as Saba Japaridze and Nino Beruashvili also faced administrative detentions linked to recent anti-government demonstrations.
In other legal matters, the prosecutor's office confirmed an ongoing investigation into alleged large-scale corruption involving former Deputy Minister of Economy, Romeo Mikautadze, and other ex-officials. Allegations include the legalization of illicit income amounting to approximately 8.4 million Lari. On a local level, an incident of alleged child abuse by a caregiver at a Zugdidi kindergarten prompted immediate suspension and police intervention. In Rustavi, two individuals were arrested following a violent assault and stabbing incident. Internationally, the pro-Russian mayor of Gyumri, Armenia, Vardan Ghukasyan, was arrested on corruption charges.
Georgian athletes continued to garner international recognition for their achievements. UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili was lauded by fellow competitor Umar Nurmagomedov as the "fighter of the year," poised to defend his title a record fourth time in 2025. Georgian participants demonstrated strong performances at the 10th World Kung Fu Championship in China, securing a total of 36 medals, including 2 gold, 9 silver, and 25 bronze. Furthermore, Georgian canoe-kayak athletes earned 9 medals (6 gold, 3 bronze) at an international tournament in Cyprus. Economically, the Lari exchange rate against the US dollar settled at 2.7076. Data from January to September 2025 indicated that Russia remains Georgia's largest export partner, accounting for 21.7% of local exports, while exports to Bulgaria witnessed a significant 195% increase.