Georgia Navigates Political Arrests, Budget Restructuring, and Heightened Regional Tensions
Today, November 29, 2025, Georgia's domestic political landscape was dominated by the arrest of opposition figure Aleko Elisashvili, a leader of "Lelo – Strong Georgia." He was detained for allegedly attempting to set fire to the chancellery building of the Tbilisi City Court. The Ministry of Internal Affairs released a statement detailing the incident, while Elisashvili's lawyer claimed he was severely beaten during the arrest, asserting his actions were a protest against "oligarchy." President Salome Zurabishvili condemned violence against state institutions but also noted that the actions demonstrated the government's concern over peaceful protests. Meanwhile, "Lelo" described Elisashvili's act as unacceptable but a desperate measure against the current regime.
Economically, the final version of Georgia's 2026 State Budget was submitted to Parliament, revealing significant fiscal adjustments. Public sector employees are set to receive a 10% salary increase, with school administrative staff, nurses, and mandatories seeing a more substantial 20% hike. Pensions are also slated to rise, with individuals aged 70 and over receiving an additional 45 GEL, and those under 70 an extra 20 GEL. Conversely, funding for the Anaklia Deepwater Port project has been reduced by 100 million GEL, and plans for a new football stadium in Tbilisi were removed from the budget entirely following the cancellation of an 876-million Lari tender earlier this week. The budget also allocates increased funds to the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and State Security Service.
In other domestic news, geologist Alexandre Tvalchrelidze issued a stark warning, identifying over 7,500 geodynamically dangerous locations across Georgia, underscoring the critical need for constant monitoring. This statement comes in the wake of a recent fatal landslide near the Kvesheti-Kobi road construction. Political protests continue, with reports of a hunger striker being hospitalized and calls from US Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen for the Georgian government to "immediately change course" and restore democratic governance.
Internationally, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remained a key focus. President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that steps to finalize the war's end could be developed in the coming days. Ukrainian forces reportedly launched drone attacks, hitting two tankers of Russia's "shadow fleet" and an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region. Additionally, Moldova's airspace was temporarily closed due to drone intrusions, and news emerged that Andriy Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, had resigned or been dismissed, reportedly heading to the front lines after his residence was searched for alleged corruption.