Georgia Sees High-Profile Arrests, EU Tensions, and Economic Activity on November 1st
November 1, 2025
The day was marked by significant legal actions against former government officials. Koba Gabunia, former Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, was sentenced to pretrial detention on charges of abuse of power, following an investigation by the Ministry of Finance and State Security Service. In a related development, a Tbilisi City Hall employee was arrested for attempted fraud involving $16,000 linked to state land registration. Furthermore, a criminal case was initiated against Vladimer Khundadze, former Deputy Head of the Revenue Service, for abuse of power; he is reported to have left the country. These cases underscore an intensified focus on combating corruption within state structures.
Political tensions continued to simmer, particularly regarding Georgia's relationship with the European Union. The Georgian delegation boycotted sessions of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, with Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili accusing the European Parliament of using Euronest as a “tool of blackmail.” Conversely, a German MEP, Sergey Lagodinsky, criticized Georgia's boycott, while a Euronest resolution explicitly condemned “serious democratic backsliding” in Georgia and refused to recognize the “self-proclaimed government” following what it termed “rigged elections.” Domestically, protests continued to draw police action, with Zurab Menteshashvili facing a criminal investigation for repeatedly blocking Rustaveli Avenue, and another activist, Giorgi Tsikarishvili, receiving a 10-day administrative detention for similar actions, bringing the total number of arrests for road blockages over the past five days to 29.
Economically, the day brought news of various market shifts and new policy implementations. Starting today, a new regulation prohibits public servants from holding more than one paid position. The real estate market remains dynamic, with Batumi experiencing a boom driven largely by foreign investment, anticipating 58,000 new apartments by 2029, with 80% targeting investors. In Tbilisi, sales of apartments in new projects decreased, while those in older projects increased. Tourism continues its upward trajectory, with visitor numbers growing by 7.9% in the first nine months of 2025, contributing $3.6 billion, largely fueled by Asian markets. The Georgian Lari strengthened against the US Dollar and Euro, while the export of blueberries saw a 65% increase, though 95% of these exports were directed to Russia.
On the international front, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remained a key focus, with the G7 condemning Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. News also emerged of US President Donald Trump cancelling a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin following Moscow's “demands” concerning Ukraine, and Trump's refusal to grant Hungary an exception from Russian oil sanctions. Meanwhile, Georgian athletes continued to make headlines, notably Khvicha Kvaratskhelia delivering a crucial assist for PSG in a 1-0 victory over Nice, earning him a top rating and matching a club record. Additionally, Budu Zivzivadze scored his first goal of the season in the German Bundesliga, and Georgian weightlifter Giga Odikadze secured a silver medal at the U20 European Championship.