Coalition for Change

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Zurab Japaridze. Photo: Mzia Saganelidze/RFERL.

2024 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Georgian police briefly detain opposition leader Zurab Japaridze

by OC Media

•2 min read

Georgian police have briefly detained Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of the opposition group the Coalition for Change and founder of the Girchi — More Freedom party, during protests in Tbilisi. Despite submitting an application to have his seat as an MP annulled, until this is approved by parliament, Japaridze remains a sitting MP in parliament and therefore enjoys immunity from arrest and prosecution. He was detained on Monday morning, after protesters moved to Chavchavadze Avenue fo

A women protests outside Central Election Commission on 13 November. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

2024 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Georgian Central Election Commission annuls electoral lists of three of four opposition groups

by OC Media

•3 min read

Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has annulled the electoral lists of three of four opposition groups upon their request, leading the way to a possible one-party parliament in the country. On Tuesday evening, the CEC said they had annulled the lists of the opposition groups the Coalition for Change, Unity – National Movement, and Strong Georgia, who all submitted requests to do so on Monday and Tuesday. ‘[This] parliament is not recognised by anyone, neither inside nor outside the

From left to right: Gela Khasaia, Beka Beridzishvili, and Boris Chele Kurua. Images via Facebook, Publika, and Facebook.

Coalition for Change

Court freezes bank accounts of Georgian opposition members

by OC Media

•2 min read

Three opposition members in Georgia have said that their bank accounts have been frozen for failing to pay fines, with all three claiming not to have received official notice of the fines. On Wednesday, Gela Khasaia, a member of the opposition Coalition for Change, wrote on Facebook that he was not handed a protocol ordering him to pay the fine imposed by the Tbilisi City Court on charges of petty hooliganism and disobeying police. Khasaia was originally arrested on 16 April during mass

Arsen Kharatyan. Image via Heinrich Böll Stiftung.

Armenia

Founder of Georgian–Armenian media outlet barred from entering Georgia

by Arshaluys Barseghyan

•3 min read

Georgian authorities have barred Aliq Media founder Arsen Kharatyan from entering the country, reportedly detaining him for hours at Tbilisi International Airport before deporting him. Aliq Media reported that their founder was detained at Tbilisi Airport on Tuesday morning, and that he was denied access to his phone. Kharatyan later stated that he had arrived in Tbilisi from an undisclosed European country, reportedly Luxembourg, on Monday. He said that he was detained by the border guards

2024 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Georgian Government to fund non-governmental organisations that register as foreign agents

by OC Media

•3 min read

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has announced that a grant programme financed from the state budget will be created for non-governmental organisations that have voluntarily registered as ‘organisations carrying out the interests of a foreign power’. At a press briefing on Monday, Kobakhidze claimed that international donors had threatened to cut the funding of ‘many’ non-governmental groups if they chose to register. He did not name any specific donors in his statements. Instead

The attack on Melia. Screengrab from video.

2024 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia attacked during campaign event

by OC Media

•3 min read

Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia was punched while giving an interview to media in western Georgia, with his attacker presumably remaining at large. Melia was attacked on Sunday as he was campaigning for October’s parliamentary elections in the western Georgian town of Samtredia. Melia is the co-chair of the opposition party Ahali and a member of Coalition for Change, together with the Droa, and Girchi — More Freedom parties. Footage of the incident shows the attacker punching Melia,