Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met Bidzina Ivanishvili today. This is a screenshot from a video of their meeting, published by Georgian Dream. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was also there.

Update:

Update: According to Tamta Mikeladze, Director of the Center for Social Justice, Afgan Sadigov has been released. The reason for his detention is still unknown.

1/ The wife of Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov, Sevinch Sadigova, writes that Sadigov was detained by police in Azerbaijan and taken in an unknown direction. His current whereabouts are unknown:

1/ The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, is on an official state visit to Georgia.

“Solidarity with Afgan Sadigov” - Yesterday, April 5, on the 494th day of continuous protest, demonstrators expressed solidarity with Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov. Persecuted by Azerbaijani authorities, he was deported from Tbilisi to Azerbaijan by a court.

This is how the police car convoy left the courtyard after the court decided to deport Afgan Sadigov.

1/ Today at 4 a.m., Judge Tornike Kochkiani found Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov guilty in a specially scheduled trial for “insulting a police officer on social media” and ordered his deportation to Azerbaijan. He was also banned from entering Georgia for 3 years and fined 2,000 GEL.

1/ According to Batumelebi, the case of Mzia Amaglobeli was reviewed by the so-called UDO commission (the Commission on Early Conditional Release), which decided that the prisoner cannot be released early on the grounds that she “still does not regret the action she committed.”

1/ Papuashvili met with a Moldovan parliamentary delegation, including former President Igor Dodon and representatives of the pro-Russian opposition.

1 /The United States Department of State has issued a statement saying that Marco Rubio spoke today with Irakli Kobakhidze. According to the Department, they discussed areas of mutual interest, including security in the Caucasus and the Black Sea region.

1/ A French photographer, Francis Prymerski, has had his short-term residence permit in Georgia revoked.

1/ The administration of Donald Trump has extended the sanctions against Russia originally imposed under the administration of Joe Biden, under which Bidzina Ivanishvili is also sanctioned.

People in Georgia continue to protest against the Georgian Dream government. Day 487 #GeorgiaProtests

Ani Kistauri from MDF was sentenced to 2 days of administrative detention for standing on a sidewalk, by Judge Davit Makaradze. Police detained her outside the courthouse, tying her hands behind her back before putting her into a car. #TerrorinGeorgia

„When you are fighting the Russian regime, refusing to recognise it, and you understand the nature of the struggle you are in, it would be astonishing, indeed irresponsible, not to be prepared for a whole range of discomforts“, - writes Elene.

1/ The decision was made by Judge Giorgi Arevadze.

1/ Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II was laid to rest on March 22 in Tbilisi, at Sioni Cathedral. In the days leading up to his burial, thousands gathered at the Holy Trinity Cathedral to bid him farewell, many standing in quiet lines to pay their respects.

1/ Judge Ekaterina Bebia of the Zugdidi Court has sentenced Shalva Esartia, who was detained for disobeying the police, to pretrial detention as a preventive measure.

Despite the bad weather, the flow of people has not stopped at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where a memorial service for Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II is being held.

🚨 Breaking: The head of Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, has died.

1/ The Catholicos-Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II, has been transferred to a clinic following a sudden deterioration in his health.

1/ Irakli Kobakhidze held a briefing at the Government Administration and responded with an extensive statement to the report published under the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism.

#GeorgiaProtests Day 472

According to the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report, the recommendation for member states of the Chemical Weapons Convention is to refer the matter to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) “to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Georgian authorities.”

1/ The OSCE Moscow Mechanism report calls for the repeal of a number of repressive laws by the Georgian Dream:

GD police in Tbilisi are searching the bags of protest participants before allowing them to enter the area in front of Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue. #GeorgiaProtests Day 471 #TerrorinGeorgia

1/ According to the Moscow Mechanism report, one recommendation addressed to OSCE participating states is to consider “imposing targeted sanctions against persons responsible for the particularly serious violations described in the present report.”

1/ On 12 March, the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report was published.

1/ The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for the release of one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, Elene Khoshtaria, and other political prisoners. The resolution was supported by 438 members of the European Parliament, while 37 voted against.

Independent news outlet @publikage.bsky.social has become the first media organisation in #Georgia to achieve the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification, reinforcing its commitment to transparency, ethical journalism, and accountability. journalismtrustinitiative.org/news/georgia...

One recommendation in the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report published today states that the States Parties to the Rome Statute may consider referring the situation in Georgia to the ICC, given the growing number of cases of political persecution, torture, and other inhumane acts.

1/ The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE PA) answered journalists’ questions after his meetings in Georgia.

1/ According to the pro-government TV Imedi, the EU has removed the Kulevi Oil Terminal from the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The EU’s Special Envoy for Sanctions, David O’Sullivan, informed Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Bochorishvili, about the decision in a letter.

Protests continue in Georgia. Since November 28, 2024, there has not been a single day in Tbilisi without a protest. #GeorgiaProtests Day 465

Iranian Ambassador to Georgia Ali Moujani stated that a Georgian government representative had written a note in the condolence book for Ayatollah Khomeini. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the note was written by a deputy to Maka Bochorishvili, but did not specify which one.

After the European Commission finalized visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports, Kaia Kalas stated: "The people of Georgia have our full support but there is no place for those representing repression in our Union".

1/ The European Commission finalised suspension of visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, or official passports under the new visa-free suspension mechanism.

1/ The prosecutor's office has charged two individuals, Levan Zardiashvili and Saba Mindiashvili, under the article of obstructing journalistic activities due to an incident that occurred on September 8 near Kakha Kaladze's electoral headquarters.

1/ The statement signed by nine pro-European opposition parties reads:

1/ On 4 March, reports emerged of drones appearing in various districts of occupied Abkhazia. Photos, videos, and related information circulated widely on Telegram channels.

1/ On March 4, Georgian Dream adopted new repressive legislation. Under the amendments, creating or spreading the perception that GD is not a legitimate government will be punishable under the Criminal Code, with a sentence of up to three years in prison. #TerrorinGeorgia

A criminal case has been launched against Baia Margishvili for tearing up case materials during a trial. She is charged with contempt of court. The hearing concerned road blocking under GD’s repressive law. The Criminal Code article carries up to 2 years in prison. #TerrorinGeorgia

1/ The Georgian Dream government expresses condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran over the deaths of Ayatollah Khamenei and other leaders. Read the statement below 👇

"When you think that the world seems to have gone mad, remember: we are the people who withstand storms, rise to their feet, and continue their path with dignity," — the chairman of GD parliament Shalva Papuashvili wrote.

February 25 is a tragic day marking Georgia’s Russian Soviet occupation, which took place in 1921. Yesterday, a protest march was held to commemorate this day. The Georgian Dream police said that the citizens did not have a permit to hold the rally. #GeorgiaProtests Day 455

Since the UK sanctioned Georgian propaganda TV channels, Imedi and POSTV, the MIA has summoned the UK ambassador. The meeting was held today. Gareth Ward did not comment afterward. Maka Bochorishvili said that "she could not listen to an argument from him about the sanctions."

A march in support of Ukraine was held in Tbilisi today, on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale aggression in Ukraine. #GeorgiaProtsests Day 454

The UK has sanctioned Georgian Propaganda TV channels Imedi and POSTV under the Russia sanctions regime (24 Feb 2026), citing their role in spreading pro-Kremlin disinformation about Ukraine.

MEP Nacho Sánchez Amor tells @publikage.bsky.social that the EU has failed to respond adequately to violations of citizens’ rights in Georgia. He says suspending visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic passports is “useless.” He also criticizes some EU ambassadors. Watch the full comment 👇