And Georgia still protests. Day 542 #GeorgiaProtests

1/ Georgian students raise 1,1 million Lari ($380,000) for children with DMD in less than 3 days.

1/ The Iliauni student movement has already raised 426,681 GEL ($160,426) for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The government has so far refused to import medication for children with DMD.

🚨 1/ The Georgian Parliament has revoked the accreditation of journalists from, citing their absence from the building over the past 10 weeks.

Former head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Razhden Kuprashvili, will defend the rights of former high-ranking official Levan Akhobadze, who is accused of corruption. Kuprashvili said he had returned to practicing law.

The amount collected has already exceeded 250,000 GEL ($93,996).

🚨 Just In: Georgia’s State Security Service has detained Levan Akhobadze, the former deputy head of the agency, on bribery charges. Akhobadze served as deputy to, who has been imprisoned since Dec. 23, 2025, in connection with multiple bribery-related criminal cases.

1/ Ilia State University students launched a marathon to help children suffering from DMD. In less than 48 hours, they raised more than 164 thousand GEL ($61,661). The marathon continues.

Just in: Tbilisi City Court has sentenced UNM Political Council Chairman Levan Khabeishvili to 2 years and 6 months in prison after convicting him on charges of sabotage and calling for the violent overthrow of Georgia’s constitutional order. 1/

On May 19, TV presenter and activist was sentenced to three days of administrative detention for standing on the sidewalk during a protest on on December 17, 2025. #GeorgiaProtests

1/ According to the Council of Europe’s 2025 Prison Statistics, Eastern Europe continues to lead Europe in prison population rates, with the highest figures recorded in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Georgia.

⭕ Georgia has lost the democratic leadership it held in the South Caucasus for more than 2 decades. In Freedom House’s 2026 report, Georgia's score dropped by 4 points, while Armenia has overtaken as the region’s democratic frontrunner. Read the article at the link in the comments.

Azerbaijan has had its land borders closed for six years. The vehicle border crossings remain closed as well.

🚨 GD announces further repressions. Mamuka Mdinaradze said that a special department will be created within the MIA to conduct “systematic monitoring of hate speech, offensive campaigns, and aggressive communication in public spaces” and enforce legal action.

Protest march in Georgia. #GeorgiaProtests Day 535

Georgian Dream MP Irakli Zarkua said about Volodymyr Zelenskyy:  "Zelensky will have to speak with us modestly... He was forced to first ask for a meeting and then come to [Kobakhidze]. This is what happens to all selfless, authoritarian and artificially appointed leaders...".

1/ Maka Botchorishvili met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha during a session of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the CoE in Moldova.

1/ Former Georgian Economy Minister and ex-Deputy PM Levan Davitashvili has become CEO of Italiana Petroli, one of Italy’s largest oil companies. Davitashvili served for years in the Georgian Dream government.

1/ The government-run propaganda TV channel Imedi TV has been banned from the European Parliament for one year. According to the independent media outlet Euroscope, two more propaganda channels: Rustavi 2 and POSTV have also received letters notifying them of their ban.

Today, another student, Elene Gelashvili, was arrested and sentenced to 2 days in detention for protesting against Georgian Dream from the sidewalk. She was also taken from the university to be arrested. #TerrorinGeorgia

Imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaglobeli marked her second birthday in prison as she turned 51. Her colleagues congratulated her on her birthday outside the prison. #FreeMzia #TerrorinGeorgia

Shio Mujiri was elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia by the Holy Synod. His title will be Shio III — Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Metropolitan of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, and Archbishop of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia.

1/ Parents and supporters of children with Duchenne will spend their 19th night at the Government Administration building.  📸 Nino Kikvadze/Publika

1/ Giorgi Kuchuashvili has been released from prison after serving a 2-year sentence. He was arrested in May 2024 during protests against the Russian law.

1/ Gela Khasaia, a member of the Coalition for Change who was arrested on September 30, 2025, will be released from prison in September 2026. A plea agreement was signed with him today under the following terms: 1 year of imprisonment and a suspended sentence of 3 years.

The court today sentenced Paata Burchuladze, the world-renowned Georgian opera singer, to 7 years in prison on charges of organizing group violence and attempting to overthrow the government on Oct. 4, 2025.

🚨The court issued verdicts in the October 4 case. Those arrested on charges of organizing: Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze were each sentenced to seven years in prison. 1/

1/ According to the Prosecutor’s Office, three former and one current special forces officer, along with a current employee of the MIA Security Police, have been identified and detained in connection with the violence against Zviad Maisashvili, Levan Khabeishvili, and Guram Rogava.

Arrests for sidewalk protests continue in Georgia. Student Ani Pridonashvili was sentenced today to 2 days in prison for participating in one on December 17, 2025. Police came to the university to arrest her. #GeorgiaProtests #TerrorinGeorgia

1/ According to State Security Service, Giorgi Udzilauri - former head of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Cartu Bank press service has been arrested on espionage charges. Govt-run TV "Rustavi 2" reports the alleged espionage involved a European country.

1/ The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has voted in favor of a critical resolution on Georgia.

1/ According to Kobakhidze's administration, the meeting was held at the initiative of the Ukrainian side and focused on relations between the two countries.

Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with Irakli Kobakhidze at the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan. The Georgian gov't screenshotted it and posted it on FB. One of GD’s main propaganda lines has been the “Ukrainisation” of Geo and it has not supported Ukraine during the war.

1/ RFE/RL’s Russian-language service Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus), which focused on audiences in Georgia and the Occupied regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, ceased operations on May 1, 2026.

🪧 Saturday is a protest march day, and today’s march is dedicated to the media. Journalists and other citizens held posters of Mzia Amaghlobeli, an imprisoned Georgian journalist, and chanted, ‘Until the end!’ #GeorgiaProtests Day 521

A bipartisan draft resolution introduced in the U.S. Senate addresses threats to press freedom around the world and mentions Mzia Amaglobeli.

⭕ “Duchenne kills; inaction leads to death,” say parents who spent their 11th night in the open air near the Government Chancellery. Joined by other protesters, they demand access to life-saving medications - and vow to continue until action is taken. Photo: Guro Tsetskhladze

⚡ Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders has released its latest ranking, with Georgia dropping 21 places to 135th out of 180 countries. Last year, Georgia ranked 114th.

The PM of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, claims that “there will be several communications and specific results in the relationship with the USA by the end of May.”

1/ Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili has summoned EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński 👇

On April 9, citizen Mariam Mekantsishvili called GD member Beka Davituliani a “Russian slave” and a “traitor.” In response, Davituliani got irritated and physically assaulted her. Today, April 27, Judge Tornike Kochkiani fined Mariam Mekantsishvili 4,000 GEL (≈$1,500) for insulting Davituliani.

1/ Today in Tbilisi, we said goodbye to two Georgian fighters who fell at different moments in the full-scale war in Ukraine: Dato Ghoghadze and Bacho Bebia. 🇬🇪 🇺🇦

1/ Poet accused of slapping a police officer has had his prison conditions tightened.

1/ The 24-hour protest by parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy continues. They are spending their fourth night outside the government administration building. Photo: Nino Kikvadze / Publika

Former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze (served from 2021 to 2024), has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for abuse of office and money laundering. Prosecutors say his actions caused the state losses of 1,333,728 GEL. He was also stripped of several real estate assets.

🚨 1/ Georgia, once a prominent partner, has been expelled from the Open Government Partnership (OGP). The decision was made by the organization’s Steering Committee.

🚨 Just In: Irakli Kobakhidze has nominated Sulkhan Tamazashvili for the post of Minister of Internal Affairs, Gela Geladze will be appointed head of the SSG, and Mamuka Mdinaradze will become Minister for the Coordination of Law Enforcement Structures, a newly created position.

1/ Parents of children with Duchenne and their supporters are spending the night outside the Government Administration in Tbilisi. Police are not allowing them to bring beanbags into the square; earlier, one supporter was even stopped from bringing in a pillow.

1/ Georgian Dream plans to expand its constitutional lawsuit against opposition parties — now adding the Federalists to the list.

1/ The Trump Organisation and partner companies are planning to build a Trump Tower in Tbilisi. The skyscraper, designed by the architectural firm Gensler, is expected to rise to around 70 storeys, making it the tallest building in Georgia.