Freedom of Assembly

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Police move in on a protest encampment in Tbilisi in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

2024 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Georgian police move in on protest encampment in Tbilisi

by OC Media

•2 min read

Georgian police have moved in to forcibly disperse a round-the-clock demonstration in Tbilisi gathered to protest the widespread electoral violation during October’s parliamentary vote. At dawn, the police gave protesters a 15-minute deadline to vacate the busy intersection near Tbilisi State University which they had blocked since Sunday . Demonstrators had pitched tents and erected makeshift barricades in the area. Several thousand police officers took part in the operation, moving in

US President Joe Biden and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Illustration by OC Media.

Freedom of Assembly

Biden snubs Georgian PM Kobakhidze by revoking UN reception invite

by OC Media

•2 min read

The White House has disinvited Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Georgia’s delegation from a reception for world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. On Wednesday, the US Embassy in Georgia told local media that Kobakhidze’s invitation to the reception was revoked due to his government’s anti-democratic actions, misinformation, and negative rhetoric about the US and the West. Voice of America reported the snub on Tuesday, citing anonymous sources including a se

A Tbilisi Pride protest outside the parliament in July 2023, after homophobic groups destroyed the site of a planned Pride festival. Organisers lay items damaged at the site on the steps of Parliament. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media

Freedom of Assembly

Georgian parliament adopts homophobic laws

by OC Media

•2 min read

Georgia’s parliament has adopted the ruling party’s homophobic legislative package in its third and final reading, banning ‘LGBT propaganda’, same-sex marriage, and gender affirming medical treatment. At the plenary session held on Tuesday, 84 MPs from the parliamentary majority voted in favour of adopting the draft law in the third and final hearing, with none voting against it. They also voted on projects connected to the law, which similarly received the support of the majority. Around

2024 Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Gakharia’s For Georgia expresses support for ‘parts’ of Georgian queer propaganda law

by OC Media

•2 min read

Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party has said it would have voted for ‘parts’ of Georgian Dream’s queer propaganda law if the legislative package had been split up instead of being voted for as a whole. On Wednesday, For Georgia issued the statement in response to claims by Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili that the party was opposed to the law. In his statement, Papuashvili praised Girchi — New Political Centre for taking part in the draft law’s second hearing, and claimed that For

Freedom of Assembly

Georgia queer propaganda law passes second reading in parliament

by OC Media

•2 min read

Georgia’s queer propaganda law has passed its second reading in parliament by 81 votes to zero. The bill, supported by the ruling Georgian Dream Party, lays the foundation for a number of restrictions and changes. According to IPN, the ruling party plans to adopt the legislative amendments in their third and final reading during the next plenary week, on 17–20 September. The anti-queer legislative package ‘on the protection of family values and minors’ consists of one ‘main’ and 18 oth

A protester holds a sign saying ‘No to the Russian law’ outside Georgia’s parliament on 14 May 2024. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Democracy

Georgian Government begins establishing registry for foreign agents

by OC Media

•2 min read

Georgia’s Ministry of Justice has issued a bylaw establishing a department responsible for registering and monitoring organisations labelled foreign agents ahead of the law’s implementation in the coming months. The Justice Ministry published the bylaw on Monday. It stipulates that the newly created Financial Reporting Department was added to the National Agency of Public Registry. The department will be responsible for registering organisations labelled as ‘carrying out the interests of a

Bidzina Ivanishvili. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Democracy

Ivanishvili ‘sends personal envoy’ to Washington amidst growing reports of sanctions against Georgian officials

by OC Media

•3 min read

The founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, has reportedly sent an ‘envoy’ to Washington amidst increasing reports of Georgian officials being hit with sanctions. On Sunday, former Georgian Dream prime minister and current head of the opposition For Georgia party, Giorgi Gakharia, claimed that Ivanishvili had sent a high-level official as a ‘personal envoy’ to Washington. ‘Bidzina Ivanishvili has sent one of the representatives of the Georgian g