Legislative Reforms Stir Protests in Georgia; Economic Activity Highlights Infrastructure and Tourism
Today, December 9, 2025, Georgia's political landscape was marked by significant parliamentary activity and ongoing public discontent. The Parliament controversially adopted new stricter regulations concerning assemblies and manifestations on its first reading, a move that fueled existing protests, particularly on Rustaveli Avenue. Furthermore, legislative changes related to higher education funding were passed in the first reading, with proposals to make state university education free, though critics warn this could lead to a less qualified workforce. The Parliament also approved the abolition of the Temporary Administrative-Territorial Unit in the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region in its second reading and elected former 'Georgian Dream' MP, Goga Gulordava, to the Communications Commission. The government continued to challenge a BBC report, with Irakli Kobakhidze demanding an apology from the UK, a request dismissed by the British Embassy which affirmed BBC's editorial independence. Politician Levan Khabeishvili remained in detention, notably rejecting legal efforts to review his pre-trial status.
Economically, several key developments unfolded. A significant tender for the modernization of the 2nd section of the Tbilisi-Rustavi highway, valued at 112,701,314 GEL, failed due to technical issues with the sole bidder. Preparatory work is advancing for the 4-lane modernization of the Kobuleti bypass highway. The national currency, the Georgian Lari, saw the USD valued at 2.6996 GEL. The tourism sector anticipates a strong winter season, particularly with increased interest from Israel and Arab countries, and discussions are underway for Ryanair's potential return to the Georgian market. In the financial sector, TBC Bank was recognized at the Banking Tech Awards 2025 for its use of technology in consumer loans, while the Bank of Georgia was named the world's best digital bank for SMEs.
In regional news, the city of Kutaisi experienced a factory fire that was successfully extinguished without injuries. Meanwhile, Batumi saw its local kindergarten's food block suspended due to disinfection problems identified by the National Food Agency. The Mayor of Batumi held a meeting with the Israeli Ambassador, and public discussions concluded regarding Batumi's 2026 budget project. Efforts to establish a common information database for individuals with mental health, alcoholism, drug addiction, and toxicomania problems within the Ministry of Health moved forward.
Internationally, former US President Donald Trump's comments garnered attention, as he called for elections in Ukraine and criticized European leaders, reiterating a past understanding regarding Ukraine's NATO membership prior to the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, reaffirmed his country's stance against ceding any territory. Romania's President announced readiness to intercept drones entering its airspace, reflecting heightened regional tensions. These international statements continue to shape the broader geopolitical context for Georgia.