Georgia Grapples with New Protest Laws, ECHR Ruling, and Economic Headwinds
Today, December 11, 2025, was marked by significant domestic political and legal developments in Georgia, alongside critical economic updates and international engagements. A major point of contention centered around the Georgian Parliament's accelerated adoption and subsequent signing by Mikheil Kavelashvili of new legislative amendments restricting freedom of assembly, specifically impacting protests on sidewalks. This has sparked renewed protests on Rustaveli Avenue, with demonstrators later marching towards Orbeliani Palace, where police presence was noted.
Adding to the legal landscape, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a ruling concerning the 2019 "Gavrilov's Night" events, ordering the Georgian state to pay compensation to 26 individuals. The decision has drawn varied reactions across the political spectrum; while the opposition party "For Gakharia's Georgia" viewed it as proof of political persecution against former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, the Justice Minister, Paata Salia, asserted that the ruling upheld the state's legitimate right to use special means and dismissed claims of Gakharia's political targeting. Human rights organizations, including the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), emphasized that the ruling obliges Georgia not only to compensate victims but also to establish detailed regulations for the use of special means during protests.
Economically, several key issues were highlighted. Reports indicated that Georgia currently has the highest egg prices among its neighboring countries, although the Retail Association stated that stock shortages have been resolved. The USD exchange rate stood at 2.6991 GEL. Research by TBC Capital revealed that over half (52%) of the vehicles in Georgia's car fleet are more than 20 years old, though recent primary registrations suggest a trend towards fleet renewal. Concerns were also raised by bread producers regarding financial penalties for distribution vehicles and persistent staff shortages, impacting production costs.
In the realm of international relations, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze conducted diplomatic meetings in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where he met with both the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, reinforcing Georgia's strong allied ties in the region. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a stark warning, stating that "Russia's next target is us" and urging preparedness for potential conflicts. Separately, the State Security Service (SSG) addressed the cancellation of an Israeli delegation's visit, denying any credible terror threat in Georgia and clarifying that information circulating originated from an Israeli Knesset member without serious substantiation.
Other notable domestic events included the arrest of prominent designer Datuna Sulikashvili on drug-related charges and the apprehension of a police chief and a detective head in Adjara on corruption allegations. Parliament also approved a new law mandating the creation of a comprehensive database for individuals with mental health problems by March 1, 2026. Internationally, the Bulgarian government resigned following weeks of anti-government protests, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that the issue of occupied territories should be resolved by the Ukrainian people through elections or a referendum.