🇬🇪| This week’s Georgia: Explained is out. One year of daily protests, BBC Eye’s investigation into a banned toxic chemical used on protesters, and the arrest of Aleko Elisashvili after trying to burn the City Court chancellery: shorturl.at/ji0V5

NEW: Over the past week, Georgian Dream regime launched new criminal cases against opposition leaders, opened investigations against ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia, moved to strip the diaspora of voting rights, and kept chasing protesters through Tbilisi’s streets: shorturl.at/TK9H4

High-Profile Raids, Arrests, and New Repressive Laws: GD Tightens Its Grip. This weeks "Georgia: Explained" is here: project64.substack.com/p/high-profi...

Introducing Georgia: Explained, a new Substack newsletter by Project 64, written and reported by @annagvarish.bsky.social In times when repressive laws push independent media into crisis, we do what we do best: explain.

🇬🇪| All five organizers of the October 4 mass rally have been placed in pre-trial detention. They’re facing four charges, including calls for the overthrow of the state. #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪| Despite the MIA’s threats that any protest held today or in the coming days will be treated as a continuation of the “attempted coup,” Georgians remain determined to block Rustaveli Avenue — just as they have for the past 311 days.

🇬🇪| On October 4, Georgian Dream held local elections boycotted by almost all opposition parties. Only two, who were originally part of the protest movement, decided to still participate even though polls showed that the majority of the protest electorate opposed it. 1/

Protesters broke through security outside the president's office. Police used tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray against the demonstrators. #GeorgiaProtests photo: @GeorgeGogua

Protesters broke through security outside the president's office. Police used tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray against the demonstrators. #GeorgiaProtests photo: George Gogua

🇬🇪 | Situation outside the president's office. Protesters clash with police. Police use water cannon, tear gas and pepper spray against protesters #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪 | Liberty Square, Tbilisi. #GeorgiaProtests, Day 311

🇬🇪 People are marching from Tbilisi State University towards Rustaveli Avenue. #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪 “Till the end” — Students and professors are preparing to march from Tbilisi State University to Rustaveli Avenue, where today’s mass rally will take place alongside the boycotted local elections. #GeorgiaProtests

The organizers of today’s protest are setting up the stage on Liberty Square, while the courtyards of the Parliament and Tbilisi City Council are packed with minibuses full of Special Task Force officers. #GeorgiaProtests

The mothers of prisoners of conscience are making sandwiches for protesters traveling from other cities for today’s mass rally. #GeorgiaProtesters

🇬🇪 | Georgia heads into a critical day after 310 days of daily protests and with more than 65 political prisoners, including journalists and opposition leaders. Everything you need to know about October 4 #GeorgiaProtests 🧵 1/6

1/ Giorgi Bachiashvili, former aide and business partner of Bidzina Ivanishvili, alleges he was kidnapped abroad on May 24, blindfolded for two days, and forcibly flown to Tbilisi on an Airzena (Georgian Airways) Bombardier plane. He appeared in court today, May 30.

1/ Nika Melia, co-chairman of the Ahali Party and member of the Coalition for Change, was arrested yesterday evening, one day before his scheduled court hearing on charges related to his refusal to pay bail for non-compliance with a Georgian Dream-led parliamentary commission.

The co-chairman of the Ahali Party faces charges for refusing to participate in Georgian Dream’s parliamentary investigative commission. 1/

1/ Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chair of Georgian Dream, responded to a U.S. Embassy statement claiming he declined a May 22 meeting with Ambassador Robin Dunnigan to discuss a message from the Trump Administration.

This morning, Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, announced his resignation. Gomelauri, sanctioned by the UK, USA under the Magnitsky Act, and the Baltic States, has been one of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s closest aides since the latter’s rise to prominence. 1/

1/ Georgia is witnessing a series of arrests targeting opposition leaders who have refused to comply with a controversial parliamentary investigative commission.

May 26, Independence Day of Georgia and 180th day of non-stop #GeorgiaProtests.

1/ Georgia is witnessing a series of arrests targeting opposition leaders who have refused to comply with a controversial parliamentary investigative commission.

“Right now, the clock is ticking for Georgian democracy, its media, and civil society.” Hear an excerpt from Giorgi Gogua, our editor-in-chief’s, speech at #CDS2025. Full speech below👇 #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪 Georgian Parliament slams U.S. MEGOBARI Act as "hostile" in fiery 11-page statement. Calls it a "Deep State" plot against Georgia, urges Trump to rein in tensions. Claims Act is retaliation for not opening a "second front."

Breaking: Former Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili arrested today for refusing to pay a fine imposed after he declined to participate in a parliamentary probe led by the Georgian Dream regime, widely regarded as a sham.

Merab Turava, former President of Georgia’s Constitutional Court, has been appointed Deputy Minister of Justice.

🇬🇪 | 1/5: Georgian authorities raided the homes of individuals tied to funds supporting protesters and activists early this morning, escalating the crackdown on dissent amid ongoing protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party. #GeorgiaProtests

1/ Irakli Garibashvili, Chairman of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, resigned from politics today, citing his belief that he is no longer fit for the role. The move comes amid rumors of a rift with GD founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪| 1/10: Georgia faced another turbulent week amid its ongoing political crisis, sparked by the disputed October 2024 parliamentary elections. From ex-PM Gakharia’s testimony to new laws and cultural protests, here’s a rundown of April 11–18. #GeorgiaProtests 🧵

1/ On April 10, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution sharply criticizing Georgia’s ongoing democratic regression. It urges the ruling Georgian Dream party to implement past recommendations, which remain unfulfilled.

The event Irakli Kobakhidze refers to is the April 9, 1989, Tbilisi massacre, where Soviet troops killed 21 Georgians, mostly young women, with shovels and tanks during a peaceful pro-independence protest.

🇬🇪 | People are paying tribute to the victims of the April 9, 1989, massacre. Last night, family members of political prisoners spent the night on Rustaveli Avenue. It’s day 133 of the nationwide #GeorgiaProtests.

Family members of political prisoners will hold an overnight vigil outside Parliament, marking the symbolic date of April 9, 1989, when Soviet troops killed 21 Georgians on Rustaveli Avenue during protests for Georgia’s independence.

Watch scenes from Tbilisi as journalists and students march together toward Rustaveli Avenue. It’s day 132 of the nationwide #GeorgiaProtests.

1/ Indigo Magazine journalist Saba Sordia remains in a detention facility following his arrest by Georgian police on April 6, 2025. The Ministry of Internal Affairs press office claims the arrest stemmed from Sordia’s alleged disobedience to a police request.

1/3: Grigol Liluashvili, until recently the head of Georgia’s State Security Service, will not take up his newly assigned position as a minister in the Regional Development Ministry, Irakli Kobakhidze announced today.

In a Facebook post, Tornike Rizhvadze announced his resignation as head of Adjara’s Autonomous Republic, expressing gratitude to Bidzina Ivanishvili and affirming his continued loyalty as a “soldier” of the Georgian Dream party.

🇬🇪 1/ Near the Parliament building, parents and family members of regime prisoners issued a joint statement today, announcing the formation of a new public movement: "Freedom for Prisoners of Conscience." They are launching a fresh wave of resistance against the government.

1/ The European Commission officials on Wednesday criticised the recent adoption by the Georgian Dream parliament of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and amendments to the Law on Broadcasting.

All three, along with other opposition figures, have refused to participate in what they describe as a masquerade, and as a result, they now face criminal charges.

Paata Salia has been appointed as the new Minister of Justice, succeeding Anri Okhanashvili. Okhanashvili will transition to the role of head of the State Security Service, replacing Grigol Liluashvili who is set to take charge of a newly established Ministry of Regional Development.

People are gathering on Rustaveli Avenue for the 124th day of nationwide #GeorgiaProtests as Georgia commemorates 34 years since proclaiming the restoration of its independence from the Soviet Union."

🇬🇪| On March 31, 1991, Georgia held a crucial referendum on restoring its independence from the Soviet Union. An overwhelming 98.9% of voters—millions of Georgians—said “Yes.” In this video, President Zviad Gamsakhurdia announces the historic results:

1/ Elene Khoshtaria, leader of Georgia’s opposition Droa! movement, has been released after detention. She reports abuse and mistreatment by police. The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament has issued a strong condemnation of her arrest and alleged torture.

Statement By Georgian Photojournalists And Documentary Photographers — @worldpressphoto.bsky.social

Happening now on Rustaveli Avenue. Day 121 of nationwide #GeorgiaProtests.

Just in: Elene Khoshtaria, the leader of the opposition party Droa, has been arrested.

1/ Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger sharply criticized Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party during a press conference with Georgia’s FM Maka Bochorishvili, condemning violence against protesters and setbacks in Georgia’s EU integration process.