- 🇬🇪| 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 🧵
- 2/10: On April 14, former PM Giorgi Gakharia attended GD’s parliamentary investigative commission, breaking an opposition boycott. The commission, initially probing UNM crimes, now covers up to 2025. Gakharia’s appearance defied expectations after he canceled a conflicting briefing.
- 3/10: Gakharia testified he didn’t order rubber bullets during the June 20, 2019, crackdown, despite being Interior Minister. He also revealed GD’s 2021 council agreed not to arrest opposition leader Nika Melia—until Ivanishvili intervened, exposing judicial overreach.
- 4/10: GD reversed a plan to ban opposition parties for this fall’s local elections. The law passed but won’t be enforced—yet. This follows PACE’s April 10 suspension of GD’s delegation until political prisoners are freed and new elections are held, signaling international pressure.Apr 18, 2025 17:26
- 5/10: On April 15, GD passed amendments to the Law on Grants, requiring government approval for organization funding. This, alongside #RussianLaw and broadcasters’ amendments, threatens civil society’s independence, echoing Russia’s playbook.
- 6/10: On April 16, Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze fired Davit Doiashvili, artistic director of the state theatre, amid a strike supporting an arrested actor. The move sparked protests among cultural figures, highlighting GD’s growing crackdown on dissent in the arts sector.
- 7/10: Lithuania and Poland imposed sanctions on GD officials for democratic backsliding. Over 50 political prisoners remain detained, including journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, with 37 OSCE states and Amnesty International urging her release.
- 8/10: GD began laying groundwork for a potential EU visa liberalization ban, a move that could undo a 2017 achievement critical for Georgian families. This aligns with GD’s November 2024 suspension of EU accession talks, a decision sparking mass protests over its anti-EU shift.
- 9/10: On April 17, Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Sadigov was released. Arrested in Georgia at Aliyev’s request, his release marks a rare win amid ongoing protests, now in their 173rd day, demanding free elections and prisoner releases. #GeorgiaProtests
- 10/END: Georgia’s crisis shows no sign of easing. Protests persist, with calls for new elections growing louder. International pressure mounts, but GD’s grip tightens. More updates as events unfold. #GeorgiaProtests
