RFE/RL's Georgian Service is a trusted source of politically and financially independent journalism in a country where much of the media is aligned with the government or the opposition.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former soccer player and right-wing populist, has been sworn in as Georgia’s new president amid a monthslong political crisis.
Georgian anti-government protesters have formed a human "chain of unity" in Tbilisi. Demonstrators lined up along the streets of the capital hand-in-hand on December 28. Protests have been ongoing in Georgia for a month, since the government downgraded ties with the European Union.
On the eve of a potentially explosion day, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called for supporters to gather at the presidential palace on December 29 as she joined a mass rally against the Georgian Dream-led government’s moves to delay closer European Union integration.
The United States said it has slapped fresh sanctions on Russia-friendly billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister and the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, for "undermining Georgia's democracy for the "benefit of the Russian Federation."
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for Georgian security forces to be investigated for the “brutal police violence” against largely peaceful protesters who have taken to the streets for anti-government demonstrations.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has called on the ruling Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party to set a date for new parliamentary elections by December 29 amid unrest over the last vote and the party's unilateral decision to postpone negotiations with the European Union.
Georgian anti-government protesters livened up their march with traditional dancing. Steps from the "khorumi" war dance were seen at the December 21 rally. Tbilisi has been the scene of daily mass protests since the government announced it would give up EU grants and accession efforts.
A showdown is looming over Georgia's presidency as the December 29 inauguration day nears for far-right politician Mikheil Kavelashvili. Current president, Salome Zurabishvili, has called the appointment "illegitimate," and says she'll refuse to leave office after Kavelashvili is sworn in.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said in its final report on the October 26 parliamentary elections in Georgia that numerous issues “negatively impacted" the elections and eroded public trust.
The Georgian government has pledged to amend its controversial "foreign agents" law following discussions with the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset.
The United States and the United Kingdom have announced sanctions on Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and other senior officials in the ministry in response to their alleged role in a violent crackdown on journalists, opposition figures, and anti-government protesters.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili challenged the European Union to do more to support pro-EU protesters and press the ruling Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party to hold new elections following its unilateral decision to postpone negotiations with the 27-member bloc.
The mayor of Tbilisi postponed a Christmas tree lighting amid concerns that protesters gathered in the city would turn violent after an electoral college dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party appointed far-right politician and former soccer star Mikheil Kavelashvili as president.
The United States has imposed more visa restrictions on Georgian officials for "undermining democracy" amid ongoing popular protests against a move by the ruling Georgian Dream party to delay the Caucasus country's negotiations to join the European Union.
Georgian protester Anamaria Tavartkiladze has volunteered to decorate the country's main Christmas tree in Tbilisi with images of people beaten amid ongoing mass demonstrations. The recent college graduate said she's hanging the posters as a way to "protest the authoritarian regime in Georgia."
The Élysée Palace announced on December 11 that French President Emmanuel Macron initiated a phone call with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, to express his urgent concerns over the deteriorating state of democracy in Georgia.
Pro-Europe protesters rallied on the streets of Tbilisi for the 13th consecutive night, while European Union foreign ministers warned the Georgian Dream-led government of consequences for its “democratic backslide” and “repressive” tactics against demonstrators.
Journalists in Georgia have been violently attacked while covering mass protests after the ruling party announced a delay in membership talks with the European Union. The attacks have been blamed on "titushky," a word meaning mercenaries hired by the authorities to beat and harass opponents.
Britain has said it is severely restricting its contacts with the Georgia government and blasted its "shocking" crackdown on journalists and pro-Western demonstrators, reflecting earlier moves by the United States and European Union.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Georgian capital on December 7 following a violent crackdown the night before by riot police against demonstrators angered by the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.
Load more
