Georgian Politics in Turmoil: Corruption Probe, Opposition Ban Bid, and Protests Unfold
October 30, 2025
The political landscape in Georgia on October 30, 2025, was significantly shaped by high-profile legal actions and escalating political tensions. The Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance announced the arrest of Koba Gabunia, former Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, on charges of abuse of power. Concurrently, searches were conducted at the residence of former Minister Irakli Karseladze and 18 other locations as part of the investigation. This development was juxtaposed with a report from Transparency International Georgia, which highlighted 250 cases of elite corruption involving 221 high-ranking officials over the past five years, raising questions about the nature and timing of the arrests.
Further intensifying the political climate, the ruling Georgian Dream party formally submitted a lawsuit to the Constitutional Court, seeking to ban three opposition parties. This move drew significant domestic condemnation and international scrutiny. Political analysts and opposition figures denounced it as an attempt to stifle dissent and establish a one-party rule. Anita Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission, also called on the Georgian government to prevent the circumvention of sanctions against Russia, a statement seen by some as implicitly linking Georgia's political trajectory to broader international concerns. Protests erupted in Tbilisi, with demonstrators blocking Rustaveli Avenue, leading to at least one arrest.
Economically, the day brought several key indicators to light. Georgia experienced a substantial 129.3% year-on-year increase in electricity imports for the first nine months of 2025, with a significant 59.4% originating from Russia. Simultaneously, imports from the European Union reached a historic maximum, contributing to a 9.3% rise in overall trade turnover between Georgia and the EU. Wage statistics for September 2025 indicated that 331,000 individuals earned more than 2,400 GEL monthly, while 12.5% received less than 600 GEL.
In other notable financial news, Silk Road Group successfully completed the placement of $400 million in Eurobonds. The official exchange rate for the US dollar was set at 2.7139 GEL. Local governance saw new chairpersons elected for city councils in Kutaisi, Batumi, Gori, Rustavi, and Chokhatauri. Notably, the newly elected Mayor of Kutaisi, David Eremaishvili, sparked a brief controversy by incorrectly referring to the City Council as a "legislative body" in a social media post, which he later corrected.