Legal Verdicts, Infrastructure Initiatives, and Geopolitical Tensions Define Georgia's Day
November 19, 2025, saw significant legal and political developments in Georgia, coupled with key economic announcements and updates from the international and sports arenas.
A major legal decision was rendered in the high-profile Buta Robakidze murder case, where the Tbilisi City Court sentenced former Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili to seven years in prison. However, his sentence was ultimately reduced to five years and three months due to amnesty. Concurrently, Zurab Adeishvili, also implicated in the case, was acquitted. These verdicts sparked strong reactions. Elsewhere, public attention focused on ongoing solidarity protests for Mate Devidze, with police detaining over ten individuals, including a TSU lecturer, during a march in Tbilisi. Adding to judicial controversies, new courtroom regulations restricting mobile phones and other technical devices came into effect, drawing criticism from lawyers concerned about hindered legal work. In a related diplomatic note, the EU postponed a human rights dialogue with Georgia, a move met with varying interpretations from Georgian officials regarding the reasons behind it.
Economically, Tbilisi announced ambitious infrastructure plans, including a 205 million Euro project to renew metro wagons and a 408 million GEL tram line connecting Didi Digomi to Didube by late 2026. Rehabilitation of Rustaveli Avenue, including a new cycle path, is also slated for 2026. The country saw record-high light vehicle imports, totaling $1.152 billion for 192,451 units from January to October 2025. Agricultural exports showed growth, with hazelnut exports increasing by 62% to $74.8 million. However, the day also brought news of arrests of four individuals from "Construction Company N1" for large-scale fraud, causing 661,163 GEL in damages to the state budget during the rehabilitation of Samtredia College. On a local level, Batumi's New Year celebrations are projected to cost over 1.3 million GEL, and the Adjara government plans to purchase three new SUVs for 271,000 GEL.
In international affairs, tragic news emerged from Ukraine about the death of a Georgian fighter. Russia continued its attacks, with a drone and missile strike on Ternopil reportedly killing 25 people, including three children. Geopolitical discussions also revolved around a Reuters report of a new U.S. "peace deal" proposal for Ukraine that would involve territorial concessions and arms reduction. Meanwhile, Armenia's President Vahagn Khachaturyan visited Tbilisi, meeting with Mikheil Kavelashvili to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional stability.
Sports news featured significant rugby developments. Georgia's men's national team, the Borjgalosnebi, are preparing for a crucial home match against Japan on November 22, a game vital for their 2027 World Cup seeding. The U18 national team secured a place in the European Championship final for the tenth consecutive time and will face Spain on November 22. Additionally, the inaugural women's 15s national team squad was announced for their first official match against Romania. In football, FIFA's updated rankings saw Georgia's national team drop three positions to 73rd globally following recent losses. European club football also reported on Real Madrid's Éder Militão suffering an injury and Napoli's search for a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne.