Introduction
The incumbent Georgian Dream party remained in power following a disputed parliamentary election on 26th October 2024, which was marked by allegations of fraud from opposition parties and election monitoring organisations. However, the party maintains that the election was fair and free of interference. In November, the government’s decision to suspend EU accession negotiations until 2028 sparked daily protests, which were met with significant repression.
European Institutions Condemn Georgian Government’s Repressive Turn
In January 2025, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on Georgia, urging authorities to call new elections and release all political prisoners. The resolution stated that the credentials of the Georgian delegation would be reviewed at the April session. In order to avoid having its credentials suspended, PACE called on the government to announce new “truly democratic” parliamentary elections by then, release political prisoners, end police brutality and human rights violations, repeal the so-called “foreign agent law” and enable Georgia’s European integration “in line with the European aspirations of the people”. The Georgian delegation was also stripped of several rights, including membership in important committees.
In response, the Georgian government announced it would withdraw the country’s delegation from participating in PACE. Tea Tsulukiani, a Georgian Dream MP and member of the delegation, criticised the resolution’s conditions as “unfair and unfounded”, arguing that calls for new elections infringed on national sovereignty. “Accepting these reservations would be tantamount to betraying our electorate and, consequently, the vast majority of our society,” she stated.
The behaviour of the Georgian authorities in the current political crisis has also been criticised by the European Union. In a joint statement on 7th February, High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos condemned the government’s targeting of peaceful protesters, journalists and opposition politicians, accusing them of resorting to “intimidation tactics and violence to silence dissenting voices.” They particularly criticised the adoption of new restrictive legislation imposing harsher sanctions on protest-related offences (see Freedom of Assembly), urging the authorities to “suspend these measures, avoid further tensions, and await the opinion of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), as requested by the Public Defender.” The statement also highlighted the case of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli (see Freedom of Expression) as a “symbol of courage for all those unjustly detained”.
Georgian Dream Announces Plan to Criminalise Treason
On 17th February 2025, Georgian Dream’s parliamentary leader, Mamuka Mdinaradze, announced plans to reinstate treason as a criminal offence. This move forms part of broader amendments to the criminal code and administrative offences codes, introducing harsher penalties and increased fines for protesters.
Mdinaradze also revealed plans to limit the role of civil society in legislative decision-making and suggested that public institutions could refuse foreign aid at the discretion of their administrators. He also proposed other measures affecting the public sector, such as changes that would simplify the appointment or dismissal of heads of legal entities in public institutions. Other proposed changes include stricter drug laws, changes to juvenile criminal law and migration regulations.
Freedom of association
PM Praises US Foreign Aid Freeze, Accuses Civil Society of Attempting “Colour Revolution”
In an address on 31st January 2025, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze praised US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend all foreign aid for three months, arguing that this step would contribute to Georgia’s stable development.
In his speech, he specifically referenced the debate and adoption of the so-called “foreign agents law” in 2023 and 2024. He asserted that the new legal framework, passed despite opposition protests, only regulates transparency and accountability, requiring NGOs to disclose their funding annually for the benefit of the Georgian people.
Kobakhidze went on to discredit civil society by claiming that opponents of the ruling Georgian Dream party had used the law’s introduction as a pretext for revolutionary attempts in spring 2023 and again in spring 2024. According to Civil.ge, the Prime Minister also alleged that the former US administration had used foreign aid to incite unrest in various countries, organising revolutions through USAID resources. He specifically cited a training held by the civil society organisation Center for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies (CANVAS) in September 2023. Following this event, three Serbian CANVAS activists, who conducted a workshop for local civil society groups at a Tbilisi hotel, were questioned by the Georgian Security Service. A secretly recorded video of the training was later released and used to accuse them of attempting to orchestrate a coup d’état against the Georgian government.
On 22nd January, Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the Georgian Dream parliamentary majority, also commented on the US decision to suspend foreign funding. He suggested that, given this development, the “foreign agent law” adopted in 2024 might no longer be necessary. On 5th February, he announced that the government would move to adopt another law, which will be a “direct copy of the current version of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA),” while describing the previously adopted law as a “simplified version” of the US legislation.
The next day, Prime Minister Kobakhidze further escalated his accusations, naming the US Embassy, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and European Endowment for Democracy (EED) as organisations allegedly coordinating efforts against the Georgian people and state.
The Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, adopted in 2024, has significantly impacted most NGOs monitoring government decision-making, including elections. Many relied on foreign funding for their operations. Critics argue that authorities have used the law to undermine freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and expression—a concern echoed by Georgia’s international partners and global NGOs.
Criminal Investigation into “Assistance to Foreign-Controlled Organisations”
While Kobakhidze intensified his accusations against foreign-funded civil society groups, on 8th February the Georgian prosecutor's office announced the opening of a criminal investigation into alleged cases of sabotage and “assistance to foreign and foreign-controlled organisations” engaged in hostile activities aimed at “undermining Georgia’s state interests.”
According to Civil.ge, the case has been opened under Articles 318 and 319 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. The public prosecutor’s office explained that the investigation was initiated following a complaint from the “United Neutral Georgia” movement, which commentators have asserted consists of “outspoken supporters” of the current government. The movement’s manifesto opposes Georgia's EU and NATO membership and holds strongly conservative views on issues such as migration and LGBTQI+ rights.
Police Raid Homes of Three Activists, Detain One
On 1st February 2025, ahead of a major protest in Tbilisi scheduled for the next day, Georgian police raided the homes of three activists—Kristina Botkoveli (known as Nancy Woland), Ilia Ghlonti, and Isako Devidze—detaining Devidze on administrative charges. The raids targeted Woland and Ghlonti, co-founders of Daitove, a Facebook group that mobilises protesters from outside Tbilisi. The Interior Ministry stated that court orders permitted the searches under articles related to organising group violence and disrupting public order.
In a Facebook post on 6th February, Woland described her mistreatment by police during the search, stating that female officers forced her to undress completely, which she described as psychological abuse. She also claimed that a male officer, who was also present, made a disturbing comment and warned her not to make him do “ugly things.” Woland also stated that she suffered a panic attack after seeing her mother being physically assaulted by police while trying to film the raid. Her computer was also confiscated as part of the raid, as was a security camera she had in her home.
During the same operation, police detained Isako Devidze for allegedly disobeying officers. His lawyer reported that Devidze was verbally abused and physically assaulted twice during detention, leading him to begin a hunger strike in protest.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Protests Continue in Georgia as Authorities Ignore Civil Society and Opposition Demands
Since November 2024, when the ruling Georgian Dream party announced the suspension of EU accession talks until 2028, Georgians have been protesting nightly. The police response to these protests has been particularly brutal and has been criticised by numerous local and international observer organisations as a violation of Georgia’s international human rights obligations.
On 24th December 2024, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that police and security forces had used brutal violence against largely peaceful demonstrators. The report draws on interviews with survivors of police brutality and describes the excessive use of force against protesters during demonstrations and ill-treatment in detention, with protesters reporting serious injuries inflicted by security forces in riot gear, sometimes wearing masks and no recognisable insignia that would facilitate their identification. HRW warned that the escalating violence poses a serious threat, with Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, quoted as saying: “The level of the authorities’ violence against largely peaceful protesters is shocking, blatantly retaliatory, and violates Georgia’s domestic laws and international norms.”
Similarly, Amnesty International reported on cases where protesters faced physical violence and were denied legal assistance while in custody. The organisation highlighted the case of Saba Skhvitaridze, who was allegedly tortured by police after being detained on what Amnesty described as politically motivated charges. Skhvitaridze is accused of committing violence against law enforcement during a protest on 5th December. In a move that is reportedly unusual for Georgian trials involving protests, the court ordered the public to leave the courtroom prior to rendering its ruling during his remand hearing.
Following his detention, the activist was allegedly tortured to coerce a confession and was denied access to his lawyer for several hours. According to Amnesty, there is little evidence that the authorities have adequately investigated his allegations, despite independent medical reports confirming injuries consistent with his allegations of torture. Saba Skhvitaridze could be sentenced to up to 11 years in prison.
On 10th January, a court in Tbilisi remanded in custody 11 detained protesters accused of participating in group violence in December 2024. They will remain in pre-trial detention until March. Under Georgian law, this offence is punishable by a prison sentence of four to six years.
While the protests subsided briefly in early 2025, they reignited with greater force on Sunday, 2nd February, when thousands gathered outside a shopping complex on Tbilisi’s northern outskirts, temporarily blocking the main road out of the city. Law enforcement arrested several opposition leaders and protesters, including Nika Melia, former leader of the United National Movement. In autumn 2024, Melia ran in parliamentary elections as the head of a new opposition coalition.
According to OC Media, a total of eight people were arrested during the 2nd February protest and charged with ‘illegally attempting to block a highway of international importance as a group during a rally.” If convicted, they could face up to four years in prison. According to information provided to the outlet by the Interior Ministry, a total of 31 protesters were detained on administrative charges of disobeying the police. Numerous cases of excessive force were recorded, and the Public Defender’s Office issued a statement saying that 22 of the 25 arrestees they spoke to reported police abuse.
On 10th February, authorities detained six people in a protest in front of parliament in Tbilisi on charges of disobeying the police and violating the rules for organising or holding protests.
Despite these arrests, protesters remain resolute, vowing to continue demonstrations in Tbilisi and other major cities like Batumi.
New Legislative Amendments Restricting Freedom of Assembly Adopted
On 6th February 2025, the Parliament of Georgia passed a package of eight laws that further restrict fundamental rights and freedoms, this time targeting the freedom of peaceful assembly. The draft laws were introduced on 3rd February and approved after two readings by 6th February.
According to the Georgian press, the new provisions, backed by Georgian Dream deputies, impose stricter penalties for unauthorised protests.
Civil.ge reports that the amendments increase fines for administrative offences such as petty hooliganism, previously punishable by 500 to 1,000 GEL or up to 15 days’ imprisonment. Under the new law, fines now range from 500 to 2,000 GEL, and imprisonment extends to 20 days.
Verbal insults against police officers now carry fines of 2,000–5,000 GEL or up to 60 days’ imprisonment, with repeat offences punishable by 3,500–6,000 GEL and extended sentences—up from the previous 7–15 days.
Penalties for repeated vandalism have increased from 5 days to 60 days, while disobeying police orders now results in fines of 2,000–5,000 GEL or up to 60 days’ imprisonment.
Freedom of expression
New Media Law Announced
On 5th February 2024, Georgian Dream MP Mamuka Mdinaradze announced plans to draft a new media law aimed at “setting standards for media objectivity and journalistic ethics.” He went on to explain that the law would be modelled on the legislation currently in force in the UK. He explained that the law would introduce institutional mechanisms to monitor compliance and restrict foreign funding of media organisations so that only revenue from commercial advertising would be allowed.
In the current situation, the move has raised fears that this proposed law will be used as an instrument of censorship. Journalists in Georgia told POLITICO that the government’s move is intended to silence critical voices. “This will be used as leverage for censorship and silencing media in the hands of a power that has no independent institutions or courts,” said Lika Zakashvili, co-founder of local media outlet Publika.
As mentioned above, Mdinaradze also revealed plans to replace Georgia’s existing “foreign agents law” with an “exact copy” of the American Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), claiming that the current law, a “light version” of FARA, had not been fully implemented and that many major foreign-funded organisations had failed to register as foreign agents.
Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli Detained Amid Crackdown on Press Freedom in Georgia
Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder and director of the Batumelebi online newspaper and its sister magazine Netgazeti, was detained on 12th January 2025. During the night of 11th to 12th January, near the Batumi Police headquarters, officers detained her twice – she was first detained for two hours for posting a sticker, before being released and then detained again at a spontaneous protest in front of the police directorate.
According to media reports, Amaghlobeli faces four to seven years’ imprisonment for allegedly assaulting law enforcement. During an interview with a representative of the Public Defender’s office, the journalist stated that she was crushed by the crowd and instinctively struck out with her hand to free herself, accidentally hitting Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze, who proceeded to personally detain her.
From the first day of her arrest, Amaghlobeli declared a hunger strike, drinking only water. By the 19th day, Jam-News reported she faced severe health complications and struggled to meet with her lawyers. Despite pressure to end the strike, she only relented after stating it was unfair for others to worry about her health when two children had died in Batumi, allegedly due to government negligence.
The Batumi Court scheduled deliberations for 4th March 2025. Meanwhile, calls for her release have intensified in Batumi, Tbilisi, and internationally, with over 300 journalists signing a public declaration demanding her freedom.
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum expressed solidarity with Georgian journalists, urging Amaghlobeli’s immediate release. The Steering Committee also called on Tbilisi authorities to end repressive actions against civil society and the press, appealing to international stakeholders for support.
Attacks on and Detentions of Journalists
On 30th December 2024, Transparency International Georgia published a report on government-led repression against the press. It documented around 200 cases of verbal and physical violence, intimidation, and other attempts to silence journalists—80% of which occurred in the last two months of the year, coinciding with the protests. The report also shows that incidents of violence against journalists in 2024 were nearly five times higher than in 2023.
Some cases of attacks on journalists in the first two months of 2025, as documented by the Media Freedom Rapid Response Mechanism, are outlined below:
- 18th February 2025 – TV Pirveli camera operator Lasha Jioshvili was abducted in Tbilisi by masked individuals without police insignia. Eyewitness footage showed about ten masked men in civilian clothing forcing Jioshvili into a vehicle. It was later confirmed he had been arrested under Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences for allegedly disobeying police orders. His lawyer reported multiple procedural violations, including the failure to inform Jioshvili of his rights, denial of contact with his lawyer and family, and attempts to force him to unlock his phone. A bruise on his hand suggested excessive force was used, and the Public Defender’s Office documented threats made against him. Jioshvili’s arrest occurred during a protest marking the birthday of Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party. He was reportedly detained for holding a banner reading, “Today, we all agree on the importance of condoms.”
- 2nd February 2025 – At least nine journalists were attacked while covering a protest on Aghmashenebeli Avenue in Tbilisi. According to the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, masked law enforcement officers—lacking identification—mistreated journalists, obstructed filming, and displayed aggression when reporters tried to document police violence. TV Pirveli camera operator Niko Kokaia was injured and briefly unconscious before being hospitalised. Other TV Pirveli journalists faced harassment, equipment damage, and obstruction, while reporters from Mtavari Arkhi, Aprili Media, Radio Tavisupleba, Radio Marneuli, Guria News, and media expert Ninia Kakabadze also faced threats and aggression.
- 15th January 2025 – A journalist and head of regional offices at Transparency International Georgia was physically assaulted at the Sheraton Hotel in Batumi. The attack allegedly involved Dimitri Samkharadze, Georgian Dream’s Regional Secretary, and Giorgi Manvelidze, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economics of Adjara, along with about ten others. Transparency International Georgia condemned the assault as retaliation against the civil sector and demanded a full investigation. In a separate incident at the same location, former Prime Minister and opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia was also reportedly attacked by the same group. While the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed an investigation into Gakharia’s case, it remains unclear if the journalist’s assault is under investigation.
- 12th January 2024 – Guram Murvanidze, a camera operator and photographer for Batumelebi, was detained on administrative charges near the Constitutional Court in Batumi while covering a protest. Murvanidze stated he was arrested while filming police detaining protesters. According to his lawyer, Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze demanded to know who was filming, and upon Murvanidze identifying himself, Dgebuadze cursed at him and ordered his phone confiscated. Murvanidze was then asked to provide his phone’s passcode and was subjected to verbal abuse.
- 24th December 2024 – Eliso Janashia, journalist and founder of the social enterprise Limeni, was physically attacked near her office in Poti by Nineli Kulonava, an activist from the Georgian Dream party. Kulonava, reportedly angered by Limeni’s EU funding and its display of the EU flag, insulted those present before grabbing Janashia by the hair, injuring her scalp and requiring emergency medical care. When Janashia began filming the incident, Kulonava began attacking her. Although police were called, Kulonava accused Janashia of starting the altercation. Batumelebi reported that Kulonava and her husband have been Georgian Dream activists since 2012.