Day: August 26, 2025

Amnesty International on Georgia’s political prisoners

Amnesty International has sent a letter to Georgia’s Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvaramidze regarding actor Andro Chichinadze and other prisoners of conscience arrested during pro-European protests, stressing that evidence against them is insufficient and videos clearly show police insulting demonstrators.

Amnesty reminds the ruling Georgian Dream party that labeling them criminals violates the presumption of innocence. The organization urges the prosecutor general to ensure fair trials or release them immediately, and to launch effective investigations into police abuses against protesters.

Cases of Georgian activists accused of drug possession: two freed, four await verdict

What is the government trying to signal by issuing acquittals in some political cases?

Full text

“Actor Andro Chichinadze is a well-known public figure in Georgia, an outspoken government critic and participant in proEuropean protests in November-December 2024. One of his co-defenders, comedian Onise Tskhadadze, is also a public figure.

In addition to the human rights violations, including fair trial breaches suffered by all 11 co-defendants, Andro Chichinadze and Onise Tskhadadze appear to have been singled out for public attacks by government officials, seemingly because of their visibility as protest figures to create a chilling effect.

The prosecution has charged the 11 co-defendants with “group violence” targeting the police, a “grave crime” under Article 225 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, punishable by up to 10 years (for “organizers”, up to eight for “participants”).

However, it has failed to prove that the actions of which they stand accused (throwing “objects” towards the police) were premeditated, coordinated, or connected to a larger plan – key elements of the legal definition of this crime.

There is no evidence that the relevant actions have caused any harm or damage. Moreover, during the trial the prosecution’s witnesses, including police officers who claimed to have been the victims of “group violence”, were not able to identify Andro Chichinadze, nor Onise Tskhadadze, in their testimonies as the individuals who had committed any violent acts against them.

The other nine codefendants are: Jano Archaia, Ruslan Sivakov, Luka Jabua, Guram Mirtskhulava, Valeri Tetrashvili, Giorgi Terishvili, Irakli Kerashvili, Revaz Kinadze, and Sergei Kukarchuk.”

Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli sentenced to two years in prison

The founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti had previously faced four to seven years in prison.

“Protests have been widespread in Georgia for over a year, against the Transparency of Foreign Influence Bill in April and May 2024, the disputed election results in October same year, and the suspension of the EU accession process in NovemberDecember 2024. Police used unlawful force to disperse overwhelmingly peaceful protesters, including arbitrary arrests, beatings and other ill-treatment, resulting in injuries and the arbitrary detention of hundreds of protesters.

Police also pursued protesters outside of demonstrations, conducting searches and arrests in their homes and offices. During the NovemberDecember protests alone, some 500 protesters were reportedly detained.

Amnesty International has documented widespread use of torture and other ill-treatment of detained protesters, misuse of criminal justice to target political opposition and other dissent, and the use of gendered reprisals, including violence, against women protesters in Georgia.”

US State Department voices concern over crackdown on government critics in Georgia

US State Department responds to sentencing of Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli

News in Georgia

This growth reflects a strengthening economic partnership and expanding export opportunities, particularly for Azerbaijani goods in the Greek market.

President Ilham Aliyev: Trump’s trusted partner on the global stage  Washington Times

The average monthly salary of employees in Azerbaijan’s information and communication sector reached ₼1,905.9 ($1,124) between January and June 2025, Azernews reports, citing the State Statistics Committee.

On August 26, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, under the initiative of its President Mehriban Aliyeva, organized a series of festive events for children at various entertainment venues across Baku.

Major parties taking part in what is widely seen as an unfair race for Georgia’s October 4 local elections – including the ruling Georgian Dream party, the opposition Lelo/Strong Georgia alliance, and ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party – have unveiled their candidates to compete for majoritarian seats in Tbilisi’s City Council (Sakrebulo), a local self-governing body.

Lelo/Strong Georgia and Gakharia’s For Georgia have presented joint candidates.

Under legislative amendments adopted by the Georgian Dream parliament in December, the number of majoritarian seats in self-governing city councils increased. In Tbilisi’s 50-member body, the split shifted from 10 majoritarian and 40 proportional seats to an even 25–25. Majoritarian seats are believed to favor the ruling party, while proportional seats have allowed smaller opposition parties to gain representation in local government bodies.

• ISFED: Election Law Changes Tilt October 4 Vote Further Toward Georgian Dream

Georgian Dream

Incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze of Georgian Dream, who is seeking a third term after the ruling party endorsed him, presented the party’s majoritarian candidates for the Tbilisi City Council (Sakrebulo) on August 7 at the GD’s headquarters. Of the 25 candidates, none are women. The list is as follows:

• Mtatsminda – Zurab Abashidze
• Saburtalo – Beka Mikautadze, Archil Nizharadze, Shalva Peranidze
• Krtsanisi – Levan Japaridze
• Isani – Kakhaber Labuchidze, Beka Menteshashvili, Davit Khabeishvili
• Samgori – Giorgi Dokhturishvili, Zakaria Tsiklauri, Vazha Kokaia, Mamuka Khabareli
• Chughureti – Zurab Chikviladze
• Didube – Givi Chkhartishvili, Shota Kevkhishvili
• Nadzaladevi – Irakli Bendeliani, Shalva Maisuradze, Davit Chelidze, Valerian Papuashvili
• Gldani – Shalva Obgaidze, Tsotne Chikvinidze, Mikheil Rekhviashvili, Jaba Koghue

Lelo/Strong Georgia, For Georgia

Lelo’s Irakli Kupradze, a joint Tbilisi mayoral candidate of the Lelo/Gakharia alliance, and For Georgia’s Giorgi Sharashidze, who was picked by the two parties as Sakrebulo Chair nominee, presented their alliance’s joint candidates for majoritarian seats in the Tbilisi City Council on August 25. Of the 25 candidates, 13 come from Lelo and 11 from For Georgia, while one is neutral. 12 candidates are women, including one person with disability. The list of candidates is as follows:

• Mtatsminda — Lana Galdava (Lelo)
• Vake — Zaza Tavadze (For Georgia), Vakhtang Surguladze (Lelo)
• Saburtalo — Salome Kobaladze (For Georgia), Ramaz Mandaria (Lelo), Roin Kochorashvili (For Georgia)
• Krtsanisi — Tamar Bokoveli (Lelo)
• Isani — Sopo Khorguani (For Georgia), Giorgi Sioridze (Lelo), Vika Pilpani (For Georgia)
• Samgori — Nino Katamadze, Guliko Zumbadze (Lelo), Giga Katsia, Daji Kovziridze (For Georgia)
• Didube — Beka Beridzishvili (Lelo), Giorgi Sharashidze (For Georgia)
• Chughureti — Rusudan Tevzadze (For Georgia)
• Nadzaladevi — Eka Udesiani (independent), Nika Cherkezishvili (Lelo), Ketevan Turazashvili (Lelo)
• Gldani — Koka Kobaladze, Pikria Kobaladze (For Georgia), Giorgi Rekhviashvili, Juba Loladze, Grigol Gegelia (Lelo)

The October 4 municipal election is boycotted by part of the opposition, who say participating would amount to cooperating with the disputed Georgian Dream government and normalizing its rule amid ongoing anti-government protests and state repression.

Also Read:

• 21/08/2025  – ISFED Says It Won’t Observe October 4 Local Elections with ‘Standard Mission’
• 08/07/2025 – ODIHR Regrets GD Government’s ‘Stated Intention’ Not to Invite Monitoring Mission
• 12/08/2020 – Lelo for Georgia Presents Majoritarian Candidates
• 20/07/2020 – Georgian Dream Presents Majoritarian Candidates