Georgian Dream Initiates Ban on Opposition Parties Amid Widespread Condemnation and Protests

2025年10月28日

Today, October 28, 2025, Georgia's political arena was dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party's decision to initiate constitutional proceedings aimed at banning key opposition forces. These include the United National Movement (ENM), Lelo for Georgia, and the Coalition for Change. The move drew immediate and sharp criticism from various quarters. President Salome Zurabishvili condemned the decision, stating that such actions "destroy multi-party democracy, dissolve society, and ruin the state," while MEP Rasa Juknevičienė likened the ruling party's actions to those of Belarusian President Lukashenko, suggesting it directly mirrors "Kremlin's playbook." Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili outlined the rationale, clarifying that the lawsuit does not target specific individuals at this stage, nor does it include Giorgi Gakharia's party.

In response to these political developments, protests erupted across the capital. On Rustaveli Avenue, demonstrators formed a "live chain" to express their discontent. Separately, parents and students blocked Dadiani Street in Tbilisi, demanding the completion of a school construction project, highlighting local grievances.

Further straining public trust, several high-profile cases of alleged corruption and abuse of power emerged. The Prosecutor's Office charged David Tabidze, former Executive Director of the Municipal Development Fund, with abuse of official authority. Concurrently, Lasha Jokhadze resigned from his position as the head of Tbilisi's Patrol Police Main Department. Concerns also surfaced regarding the substantial "Arab city" investment project, with opposition leader Mamuka Khazaradze questioning the deal's transparency and alluding to potential corruption. Separately, reports indicated former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili might face a 1 million GEL bail request in an ongoing case.

Economically, the day brought mixed news. Globally, Apple's market capitalization surpassed $4 trillion. However, Georgia saw an 81% decrease in tangerine exports during the first nine months of 2025. Despite this, the commercial banking sector recorded a significant GEL 2.4 billion in net profit over the same period. The US dollar exchange rate was reported at GEL 2.7212. New legislation was discussed allowing public servants to concurrently serve on the Pension Fund's management board, and changes were announced for "White List" registration for state tenders. Discussions also highlighted concerns that new Russian taxes could negatively impact Georgian wine exports.

Finally, daily life saw some adjustments, with Tbilisi announcing the introduction of new 18-meter buses on route N306 from November 1st, aiming to expand coverage and capacity. Meanwhile, the legal system continued to deal with cases, including the ongoing detention of opposition figure Levan Khabeishvili and the critical health condition of imprisoned teacher Nino Datashvili, who is reportedly now moving with a wheelchair.