Politics

November 26, 2021

Dispatch – November 25/26: Schadenfreude

Saakashvili: New Escalation in Sight? - Sincere Talk of Ex-President's Son Sparks Discussions - Anger in Batumi Brings Back Dark Memories - Culture Minister and Chronicles of Suspicious Dismissals Georgians love drama - look at politics, public discussions, internet reactions, or

Politics

November 19, 2021

Opposition Majority in Batumi Sakrebulo in Doubt

A possible opposition majority in the Batumi City Council (Sakrebulo) is in doubt after an unexpected passing of United National Movement's elected majoritarian member Nugzar Putkaradze

Politics

November 19, 2021

Dispatch – November 18/19: Distortions

Hunger-Strike Crisis & The Subtle Art of Averting Responsibilities - Ombudsperson Gets "Where Were You?!" Questions - That Confusing Notion of Equal Treatment - Reports: Opposition Batumi Sakrebulo Member Dies Almost three weeks have passed since the municipal election runoffs, and the promised peace and stability are nowhere to be seen

Politics

November 17, 2021

Parliament Terminates Two Opposition MPs’ Mandates, per Their Request

Parliament of Georgia terminated the parliamentary mandates of Zurab Japaridze of Girchi - More Freedom and Mamuka Khazaradze of Lelo parties, as per their request

Politics

November 16, 2021

Dispatch – November 15/16: Frenemies

Saakashvili Crisis: Blood That Wasn't, and Forgotten Risks - Defending the Defender: Ombudsperson's Wars - Dear Foreign Friends: We Feel You - President Slammed for Getting Away - Girchi's Art of War - Rumors About Old New Players Treating foreign partners as enemies whenever the party interests dictate - that is the new normal in Georgian politics

Politics

November 12, 2021

Dispatch – November 11/12: Truman Show

Misha Condition to End Hunger Strike: How Realistic? ECtHR Decision: Short Text, Many Interpretations - Saakashvili's Prison Videos: Goals and Ends - Gela Charkviani's Obituary - National Team's Surprise Win Many remember THE DRESS illusion from 2015 when a simple picture of a dress posted on the internet has divided people all around the globe: some insisted the dress was white and gold, while others were convinced it was black and blue

Politics

November 09, 2021

Dispatch – November 8/9: Ordeal

Saakashvili's Hospitalization: Another Day of Brinkmanship - Ex-President's Botched Transfer Sparks Inhumane Treatment Concerns - Things Get Tense Outside - Supplements of Discord - Rally to Mark November 7 Here we go again: yet another night when Georgians went to sleep not knowing what they will be waking up to

Politics

November 05, 2021

Dispatch – November 4/5: Unpopular Decisions

Vague Direction of Protests Scares Those at the Top - Fate of Hungering Saakashvili: New Options in Sight? - Villains or Victims? Women's Rights Activists on Misery of Party Coordinators - Tsalenjikha Hype Continues - Green Passes on the Table? The post-election crisis continues in Georgia, and the situation is nothing close to the peaceful bliss the rulers promised

Politics

November 02, 2021

Lelo Faction Boycotts Parliamentary Sessions

The parliamentary faction Lelo-Partnership for Georgia announced today boycott of the plenary sessions until the Georgian Dream government ensures an "adequate protection" of hunger-striking Mikheil Saakashvili's health and "neutralizes all threats" that might endanger his life

Politics

November 02, 2021

Dispatch – November 1/2: Climate Change

Runoffs and Familiar Noise - Tsalenjikha's Dream on Everyone's Mind - Opposition Plans Rallies, But with Awkward Error - Gov't Dismisses Lockdown Fears - Opposition Split Over Quitting Mandates - Gvaramia Talks Saakashvili's Kidnapping Plots Two days after the contested October 30 municipal runoffs, the Georgian Prime Minister talks climate change with world leaders in Glasgow

Politics

October 29, 2021

The Dispatch, October 28/29: Humans

GD Rally: Things We See and Unsee - Ruling Party in Series of Controversies Over Saakashvili's Treatment - Film Review: Opposition's New Campaign Clip - Who's Stealing Gakharia's Sakrebulo People Hours left before Georgians will vote in tense runoffs, and no matter who wins, some may have already lost the best in them: human dignity

Politics

October 27, 2021

Central Bank Holds Key Rate at 10%

The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) today kept the key refinancing rate unchanged at 10% for the second time, after raising it by 0

Politics

October 26, 2021

The Dispatch – October 25/26: Ok, Bro!

Spat Over Saakashvili's Hospitalization Gets Dangerous - GD Chair Frames Ombudsperson as UNM Activist, Lomjaria Sighs - Ruling Party Calls Major Rally - Sakrebulo Mandate-Holder Quits Gakharia's Party The final week ahead of the municipal election runoffs has begun, and even though it’s freezing in Tbilisi streets, the political temperatures continue to rise and painfully burn

Politics

October 20, 2021

Melia Unveils Shadow Coalition Cabinet for Tbilisi City Hall

Nika Melia, the runner-up from the United National Movement in the October 30 Tbilisi mayoral runoff, unveiled a shadow cabinet in cooperation with five opposition parties, Lelo, Girchi - More Freedom, Droa, European Georgia and United Georgia - Democratic Movement

Politics

October 19, 2021

The Dispatch – October 18/19: Stuck in the Middle

Saakashvili's Hunger Strike Faces Silence from West - GD Back to "End UNM" Campaigning - Runoff Endorsements Come with Aggression - Comeback of Georgia's Favorite Telenovela Announced - Georgian Female Convicts Win Chess Trophy As the country enters the intense campaign phase of municipal runoffs, its citizens grow increasingly unable to find common ground

Politics

October 12, 2021

The Dispatch – October 11/12: Cracks

Batumi Tragedy - Media Ethics in Spotlight - Fashion Designers and Clerics Sign to #Freemisha - Saakashvili's Hunger Strike Turns Into Math Problem The polarization hit a new high in Georgia, after the arrival and arrest of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, highlighting the cracks in the social fabric

Politics

October 08, 2021

The Dispatch – October 7/8: Correcting for Toxicity

PM's Toxic Blunder - Saakashvili's Drug-Test Challenge - Line Forms to See Misha in Jail - Sentimental Education - Troubled Start of Coalition Talks - UNM Teeters in Zugdidi Council Since the last year’s vote, Georgia has had a new tradition of closely studying errors, manipulations, and corrections in election protocols

Politics

October 02, 2021

In Quotes: Opposition Reacts to Exit Polls

Many of the opposition leaders declared victory over the Georgian dream, especially in the capital city of Tbilisi, but highlighted the need to protect the votes of Georgian citizens during the counting of ballots

Politics

October 01, 2021

Dispatch – September 30/October 1: Campaign Hijackers

Hair-spinning - Blast from the Past - Let LELO Keep Your Baby - Let them eat Khachapuri? - Minstrel in Defense Past has a way of catching up with you, especially if you are a politician

Politics

September 29, 2021

In Quotes: Opposition on Saakashvili’s Announced Return

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili posted his Kyiv-Tbilisi flight ticket on social media late on September 27, announcing his plan to return to the country in the evening after local elections polling stations close on October 2