Record Car Re-Exports From Georgia Raise Sanctions Evasion Concerns The Jamestown Foundation
Day: September 8, 2025
The open court hearing regarding the criminal cases of citizens of the Republic of Armenia—Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others—accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violation of war laws and customs, terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and numerous other crimes resulting from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, continued on September 8.
Georgian Dream on expelled members
Georgian Dream MPs Tengiz Sharmanashvili and Davit Matikashvili said that “some former members expelled from the team are encouraging radicalism,” stressing that “those who commit crimes and betray the homeland will face an appropriate response.”
“It should be clear to everyone: those who break the law, betray the homeland and commit crimes will face the strictest measures from the law and the state.
You know well that we are not disclosing any names yet. This is not about specifically identified individuals. But it is clear that those who were removed have, in one form or another, tried to support and finance radicalism,” Matikashvili said.
Tengiz Sharmanashvili, for his part, said the Georgian government had nothing to worry about, but that former party members should expect to be exposed. He did not specify which ex-members of Georgian Dream he was referring to.
“These people were also expelled from the team for engaging in anti-state activity. But they will all be exposed for their ties with foreign countries that cause serious damage to Georgia and its interests,” Sharmanashvili said.
News in Georgia
Tensions flared again in the evening of September 8 near Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze’s campaign office. Media reports and footage show Georgian Dream supporters attacking and repeatedly punching demonstrators. Several are reported injured, including women and journalists.
The confrontations flared several times in the course of about two hours. The Interior Ministry said it has “launched an investigation into group violence.” The statement said the police officers “took all relevant measures from the start of the confrontation to cool down the tensions and prevent the further intensifying of the conflict.”
The protesters say the police officers who arrived at the scene did not prevent the assaults and made no arrests. Although protesters have already identified some attackers, none have reportedly been detained.
According to eyewitness reports, the confrontation erupted when demonstrators marching from the Public Broadcaster arrived at Kaladze’s campaign office. The protesters allege that dozens of what seemed like the ruling party militants were waiting in parked cars. Clashes reportedly erupted as demonstrators chanted slogans against the Georgian Dream. The attackers were said to have used iron batons. Some party activists who congregated at Kaladze’s campaign office also joined in, and are seen on footage shouting insults, throwing bottles, pushing metal barriers at demonstrators, and repeatedly punching some protesters.
Several journalists were among the injured. Publika reported that two of its reporters, Aleksandre Keshelashvili and Keto Mikadze, were attacked, physically assaulted, and had their phones snatched. Another online outlet, Netgazeti, reported that its journalist Ketevan Khutsishvili was obstructed from carrying out her work by a police officer, who pulled her away from the scene and verbally assaulted her. Hungarian journalist László Mézes was also injured, suffering facial bleeding and a twisted hand. Several of the injured were reportedly hospitalized.
First Reaction from GD
Reacting to the incident, GD parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili wrote on his Facebook account: “Today, already for the third time, titushki* supported by the German Ambassador, chanting fascist slogans, have attacked the Tbilisi election HQ of the Georgian Dream. Supporting extremists during the election campaign from the foreign ambassador is an example of election interference and a blatant violation of the Vienna Convention [on Diplomatic Relations].”
The GD-affiliated media, including Imedi TV, have been pushing images showing demonstrators shouting insults. However, there is no physical violence seen; it is unclear who they are insulting, and it is also impossible to establish whether the footage was taken before or after they were assaulted.
Head of the judicial committee of the GD parliament, Archil Gorduladze, is also seen on Imedi TV footage, telling the editor of Publika that “externally manipulated titushki” have been assaulting the GD campaign office.
* * Titushki were mercenary agents in Ukraine who supported the Ukrainian security services during the administration of Viktor Yanukovych, often street hooligans in sports clothing. Georgian opposition protesters have used the same term to refer to the young men clad in black who assaulted them during the December 2024 protests. Recently, GD has been trying to return the term against the protesters.
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