Georgia Sees Political Protests Intensify Amid Economic Boost and Sporting Successes
2025年11月2日
Today, November 2, 2025, Georgia's domestic political landscape was marked by escalating tensions and ongoing protests. Several individuals were arrested during demonstrations on Rustaveli Avenue, with activists like Sergey Kancheli receiving administrative detention sentences. President Salome Zurabishvili issued a stern warning against what she termed a "full ensemble of Russian legislation" aimed at fundamentally altering Georgia's state. Furthermore, Reporters Without Borders included Bidzina Ivanishvili in its 2025 list of "press freedom predators," signaling continued international scrutiny of media freedom in the country.
Economically, significant developments were observed, particularly in the real estate and tourism sectors. Batumi's apartment market is projected to see a dramatic increase, with short-term rental apartments expected to double to 40,000 by 2029, largely driven by foreign buyers, who currently account for 77% of sales in selected projects. The construction sector, however, faces challenges due to a shortage of skilled labor, contributing to rising housing costs. Tourism continued its robust performance, with visitor numbers up by 7.9% in the first nine months of 2025, generating $3.6 billion in revenue, primarily from Asian markets.
Several local governance and legal issues also made headlines. Goga Memanishvili was appointed as the new head of the Tbilisi Patrol Police. Allegations of corruption resurfaced with the arrest and remand in custody of Koba Gabunia, former Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, in connection with unfinished kindergarten projects. Separately, the Batumi City Hall faced criticism for its plan to spend 976,000 GEL on New Year decorations, while the municipality also blocked a businessman from creating a parking facility amid ongoing city issues.
Georgian athletes delivered a series of impressive international performances. The U23 Judo National Team secured the European Championship title for the second consecutive year. In weightlifting, Goga Jajvani became a European champion among U20s, setting new Georgian and European records, while Nana Khorava earned two silver medals. In football, Giorgi Abuashvili scored a debut goal in France's Ligue 1, and Zuriko Davitashvili continued his strong scoring run in Ligue 2. Additionally, Goga Bitadze contributed significantly to his NBA team's victory, and Georgian para-powerlifters achieved seven medals at the World Championship.
Internationally, the region remained on alert. A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck near the Georgia-Armenia border. Updates on the Russia-Ukraine war indicated continued fighting, with Ukraine reporting a high number of drone and missile attacks this week, and President Zelensky thanking Germany for new Patriot systems. News also emerged of Turkish oil refineries increasing purchases of non-Russian oil, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced plans to restore nuclear facilities, adding to regional geopolitical complexities.