Last week in Georgia the confrontation between the government and the protesters as well as the oposition continued. With the municipal elections scheduled for the first weekend of October, the ruling party is well prepared for victory, and yet additional steps are being made to ostrakize the opposition and strengthen the narrative of rule and law to mobilize the supporters. In the meantime, the US Helsinki commission held a hearing with Georgian nationals, while the US Senate failed to pass the Megobari act in an accelerated procedure.
📌 Key Trends:
🚨 Security and Opposition Developments
The Georgian State Security Service (SSSG) conducted two operations involving an opposition member and two Ukrainian citizens. UNM member Levan Khabeishvili was detained, and the two Ukrainians were allegedly transporting explosive material toward Tbilisi, in connection with an investigation into a potential security threat.
What’s Happening:
- ⚖️ UNM politician Levan Khabeishvili was arrested on charges of offering $200,000 to riot police not to disperse protests ahead of the October 4 elections. He was placed in pretrial detention and later additionally charged with publicly inciting the overthrow of the government.
- 💣 Two Ukrainian nationals were detained for allegedly smuggling 2.4 kg of explosives from Turkey. While the suspects initially claimed the material was bound for Russia, the SSSG later suggested it was intended for storage in Tbilisi and alleged possible links to Ukraine’s SBU and Georgian opposition figures.
- 📺 The SSSG also mentioned investigating potential involvement of former UNM minister Bacho Akhalaia, who has not been politically active since his release from prison in 2022. Pro-government outlets amplified these claims, framing them as part of a broader plot to destabilize Georgia ahead of the elections.
🔥 Melikishvili Avenue Clashes
Clashes occurred on September 8–9 outside the Georgian Dream campaign office in Tbilisi. Police detained three individuals. The incidents happened during ongoing protests in the preparation towards the upcoming local elections on October 4.
What’s Happening:
- 👊 Two GD supporters, Zaza Mamaladze and Irakli Buachidze, were filmed attacking protesters. Both were initially detained but later released without charges, with authorities citing lack of cooperation from alleged victims.
- 🖌️ Anti-GD activist Megi Diasamidze was arrested for defacing a campaign poster and released on bail. Experts argued that such actions would usually be considered an administrative offense rather than a criminal case.
- 📣 Government officials and pro-GD media described the incidents as orchestrated provocations by opposition supporters, suggesting coordination and even foreign involvement to create tension, framing the GD supporters’ responses as defensive while condemning any escalation of violence.
🗂️ U.S. Congressional Developments on the MEGOBARI Act
The MEGOBARI Act, which was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, is stalled in the Senate due to disagreement with the accelerated procedure by Republican Senator of Oklahoma Markwayne Mullin.
- 🏛️ Senator Mullin, who had earlier criticised Georgia for aligning itself with “hostile rivals and enemies, which are coming at the expense of [American] geostrategic and business interests,” said he instead wants to work with the GD before any potential sanctions.
- ⚖️ Supporters emphasize the bill’s broad bipartisan backing and its role in addressing alleged governance and human rights concerns. Georgian Dream leaders, who are directly affected by the bill, described it as hostile to Georgia.
- 🤝 Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze claimed the bill’s adoption was abandoned, describing this as a positive development. He also expressed a wish to reset U.S.-Georgia relations and pursue engagement under a step-by-step approach, contingent on U.S. domestic political decisions.
🔍 What’s Next
In the coming weeks, further actions from the government and opposition are likely as both sides navigate the political environment ahead of the October 4 local elections. The government may continue emphasizing law-and-order narratives and maintaining public order, while opposition groups could seek to mobilize support and challenge government initiatives. From the U.S., policy is expected to remain cautious, balancing engagement with Georgia and keeping the MEGOBARI Act as a potential tool, depending on developments.
