Georgia Grapples with Education Reforms, Protest Controversies, and Regional Transit Dynamics
Georgia's political landscape today was largely shaped by ongoing discussions around proposed legislative changes. The government's planned reform of the higher education system drew criticism, particularly concerning potential restrictions on university applicants' ability to choose multiple faculties and a shift in grant funding models. Simultaneously, the ruling party, Georgian Dream, introduced stricter regulations regarding assemblies and manifestations, which would require advance notification to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for protests in public movement areas and could lead to administrative detention or criminal charges for non-compliance. These moves have been widely condemned by opposition figures and civil society as attempts to curb freedom of assembly.
Adding to the heated political climate, the controversy surrounding the alleged use of a chemical agent, identified as "Kamiti" (likely Bromobenzyl Cyanide) by a BBC report, to disperse protests in late 2024 continued to dominate headlines. International actors, including Stephen Doughty, UK Minister for Europe, urged Georgia to fulfill its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged use of toxic chemicals. Opposition figures and critics accuse the government of attempting to cover up the incident, while officials deny the allegations, with some labeling the BBC report as "disinformation." The State Security Service (SSS) claims its investigation has answered all questions, a stance met with skepticism by many.
In regional affairs, the spotlight remained on the Zangezur Corridor, with a BBC report suggesting it could become a "Caucasian America" following a peace agreement brokered by Donald Trump between Azerbaijan and Armenia in August 2025. Georgia also played a critical role in facilitating a one-time, free railway transit of Azerbaijani fuel to Armenia, a decision made by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, amidst discussions on regional energy security and transit routes like the Middle Corridor. Separately, BP announced negotiations to transfer the operation of the Baku-Supsa and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipelines to relevant governmental agencies in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey.
Economically, the US Dollar officially reached an exchange rate of 2.7005 GEL. The real estate market showed resilience, with 65% of apartments in projects set for completion in 2026 already sold. Construction costs continued to rise, increasing by 0.3% month-on-month and 4.3% year-on-year in October 2025. There was also a notable increase in the export of Georgian snails, reaching a historic high. In sports, Georgian fencer Sandro Bazadze ascended to the world number one ranking, a significant achievement following his World Championship gold medal in Tbilisi earlier in 2025. Mixed Martial Arts fighter Merab Dvalishvili, however, lost his title fight against Petr Yan by unanimous decision.