🇬🇪| This week’s Georgia: Explained is out. One year of daily protests, BBC Eye’s investigation into a banned toxic chemical used on protesters, and the arrest of Aleko Elisashvili after trying to burn the City Court chancellery: shorturl.at/ji0V5

NEW: Over the past week, Georgian Dream regime launched new criminal cases against opposition leaders, opened investigations against ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia, moved to strip the diaspora of voting rights, and kept chasing protesters through Tbilisi’s streets: shorturl.at/TK9H4

High-Profile Raids, Arrests, and New Repressive Laws: GD Tightens Its Grip. This weeks "Georgia: Explained" is here: project64.substack.com/p/high-profi...

High-Profile Raids, Arrests, and New Repressive Laws: GD Tightens Its Grip

The week in Georgia: Explained (13.10-19.10)

project64.substack.com

Introducing Georgia: Explained, a new Substack newsletter by Project 64, written and reported by @annagvarish.bsky.social In times when repressive laws push independent media into crisis, we do what we do best: explain.

Georgia: Explained

Introducing Georgia: Explained, a new Substack newsletter by Project 64, written and reported by Anna Gvarishvili.

project64.substack.com

🇬🇪| All five organizers of the October 4 mass rally have been placed in pre-trial detention. They’re facing four charges, including calls for the overthrow of the state. #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪| Despite the MIA’s threats that any protest held today or in the coming days will be treated as a continuation of the “attempted coup,” Georgians remain determined to block Rustaveli Avenue — just as they have for the past 311 days.

🇬🇪| On October 4, Georgian Dream held local elections boycotted by almost all opposition parties. Only two, who were originally part of the protest movement, decided to still participate even though polls showed that the majority of the protest electorate opposed it. 1/

Protesters broke through security outside the president's office. Police used tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray against the demonstrators. #GeorgiaProtests photo: @GeorgeGogua

Protesters broke through security outside the president's office. Police used tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray against the demonstrators. #GeorgiaProtests photo: George Gogua

🇬🇪 | Situation outside the president's office. Protesters clash with police. Police use water cannon, tear gas and pepper spray against protesters #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪 | Liberty Square, Tbilisi. #GeorgiaProtests, Day 311

🇬🇪 People are marching from Tbilisi State University towards Rustaveli Avenue. #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪 “Till the end” — Students and professors are preparing to march from Tbilisi State University to Rustaveli Avenue, where today’s mass rally will take place alongside the boycotted local elections. #GeorgiaProtests

The organizers of today’s protest are setting up the stage on Liberty Square, while the courtyards of the Parliament and Tbilisi City Council are packed with minibuses full of Special Task Force officers. #GeorgiaProtests

The mothers of prisoners of conscience are making sandwiches for protesters traveling from other cities for today’s mass rally. #GeorgiaProtesters

🇬🇪 | Georgia heads into a critical day after 310 days of daily protests and with more than 65 political prisoners, including journalists and opposition leaders. Everything you need to know about October 4 #GeorgiaProtests 🧵 1/6

1/ Giorgi Bachiashvili, former aide and business partner of Bidzina Ivanishvili, alleges he was kidnapped abroad on May 24, blindfolded for two days, and forcibly flown to Tbilisi on an Airzena (Georgian Airways) Bombardier plane. He appeared in court today, May 30.

1/ Nika Melia, co-chairman of the Ahali Party and member of the Coalition for Change, was arrested yesterday evening, one day before his scheduled court hearing on charges related to his refusal to pay bail for non-compliance with a Georgian Dream-led parliamentary commission.

The co-chairman of the Ahali Party faces charges for refusing to participate in Georgian Dream’s parliamentary investigative commission. 1/

1/ Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chair of Georgian Dream, responded to a U.S. Embassy statement claiming he declined a May 22 meeting with Ambassador Robin Dunnigan to discuss a message from the Trump Administration.

This morning, Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, announced his resignation. Gomelauri, sanctioned by the UK, USA under the Magnitsky Act, and the Baltic States, has been one of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s closest aides since the latter’s rise to prominence. 1/

1/ Georgia is witnessing a series of arrests targeting opposition leaders who have refused to comply with a controversial parliamentary investigative commission.

May 26, Independence Day of Georgia and 180th day of non-stop #GeorgiaProtests.

1/ Georgia is witnessing a series of arrests targeting opposition leaders who have refused to comply with a controversial parliamentary investigative commission.

“Right now, the clock is ticking for Georgian democracy, its media, and civil society.” Hear an excerpt from Giorgi Gogua, our editor-in-chief’s, speech at #CDS2025. Full speech below👇 #GeorgiaProtests

🇬🇪 Georgian Parliament slams U.S. MEGOBARI Act as "hostile" in fiery 11-page statement. Calls it a "Deep State" plot against Georgia, urges Trump to rein in tensions. Claims Act is retaliation for not opening a "second front."

Breaking: Former Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili arrested today for refusing to pay a fine imposed after he declined to participate in a parliamentary probe led by the Georgian Dream regime, widely regarded as a sham.

Merab Turava, former President of Georgia’s Constitutional Court, has been appointed Deputy Minister of Justice.

🇬🇪 | 1/5: Georgian authorities raided the homes of individuals tied to funds supporting protesters and activists early this morning, escalating the crackdown on dissent amid ongoing protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party. #GeorgiaProtests

1/ Irakli Garibashvili, Chairman of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, resigned from politics today, citing his belief that he is no longer fit for the role. The move comes amid rumors of a rift with GD founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. #GeorgiaProtests