Georgia: Political Affairs, Air Crash, and the Economic Challenges of the Day

13 November 2025 Georgia’s political agenda was marked by high-profile court decisions and statements. A pre-trial detention order in absentia was issued for former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia in connection with the events of 20 June and the so-called “Chorchana episode.” In his statement, Gakharia said this was the fulfilment of Ivanishvili’s “threats.” Meanwhile, former President Mikheil Saakashvili was transferred back to Rustavi Prison from the “Vivamed” clinic and appealed to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, asking to be included on the list of “civilian captives.”

A tragic development came with the completion of search operations at the crash site of the Turkish military aircraft C-130 Hercules in the Sighnaghi municipality. The bodies of all 20 crew members were found. According to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, there were no munitions on board the aircraft. Turkey has temporarily suspended flights of its C-130 planes.

In the economic sector, Transparency International Georgia published a report stating that a significant number of permits for the construction of small and medium hydroelectric power plants were issued through corrupt practices. Similar patterns, the report notes, are also observed in construction in Tbilisi and Batumi. The share of agriculture in GDP fell to a 15-year low, reaching 6.2% in 2024. Amid criticism regarding the poor quality and safety of roads, the Ministry of Infrastructure plans to establish a laboratory in Tbilisi to monitor the quality of construction materials and infrastructure.

Civil society groups have expressed concern over increasing pressure on non-governmental organizations, resulting in some of them ceasing operations. New protest actions have been announced: on 28 November a march is planned from Tbilisi State University to Rustaveli Avenue. Georgia’s foreign trade turnover for January–October 2025 increased by 8.6%, with exports up 6.8% and imports up 9.3%. The exchange rate of the US dollar against the lari reached 2.7091 GEL.