Average Monthly Nominal Earnings Was Up By GEL 204 Last Year

OSCE Chair Valtonen to visit Georgia

According to the press release, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office will have meetings with high-level government officials.The agenda includes, among other items, the progress in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, with particular attention to the conclusion of the OSCE Minsk Process and its related structures.In Georgia, the meetings will centre on the country’s internal and external challenges, with a particular emphasis on the ongoing support of the OSCE for the Geneva International Discussions to address the aftermath of the 2008 war.“Finland, as Chair of the OSCE in 2025, places strong importance on safeguarding civic space and ensuring an enabling environment for civil society. This priority will be underlined throughout the visit,” the OSCE statement reads.

Papuashvili announces filing of lawsuit to declare UNM party unconstit...

“We saw great hysteria from the defenders of the National Movement, but October 4 gave us a sea of evidence. We reviewed the failed coup attempt not only from the perspective of restoring law and order, but also in detail with our lawyers. Evidence has been added that the National Movement is an extremist force undermining Georgian democracy and the state,” Papuashvili said.He also criticized international actors, claiming that foreign silence is a result of their indirect involvement in the events of October 4. “Foreigners realized they had created additional evidence against the National Movement and were involved as accomplices, which is why they remain silent,” Papuashvili added. He further urged opposition figures to reflect on their actions and consider whether they may have committed criminal offenses during the unrest.The move follows earlier statements by Georgian Dream prior to the 2024 parliamentary elections, when party leaders promised that the UNM and its satellite parties would be declared unconstitutional if the ruling party gained a constitutional majority. In March 2025, Mamuka Mdinaradze submitted a draft law to parliament seeking to ban the successors of the UNM from participating in elections.

Senators Shaheen and Risch - Georgian Dream is wholly uninterested in...

“We are increasingly concerned by the deteriorating political situation in Georgia and the troubling actions taken by the Georgian government following recent local elections. Prime Minister Kobakhidze’s decision to outlaw opposition parties and jail their leaders is egregious, undemocratic and yet another indication that Georgian Dream is wholly uninterested in pursuing a path toward normalized political dialogue. Politically-motivated investigations and intimidation of civil society leaders, particularly those who have worked with the United States government and testified before our committee, are an attempt to silence dissent in a country with a proud history of speaking truth to power.“It is also unacceptable that the Georgian government has targeted former U.S. government employees by making baseless allegations that they are undermining Georgia’s government. Let us be clear: it is Georgian Dream, not the United States, that is undermining Georgia’s democracy and their ability to determine their future. We welcome the Department of State’s decision to summon the Georgian Ambassador to address these disturbing developments and we urge the Trump Administration to consider recent actions by the Georgian government before pursuing any change to the bilateral relationship. We extend our unwavering, bipartisan support to the Georgian people who simply wish to claim their right to self-determination,” the statment reads.

MEPs: Local elections were conducted by self-appointed "dream" officia...

According to the statement, the elections “were held in a restricted environment, in the context of months of repression against civil society, independent media, and the political opposition by self-appointed officials of the Georgian Dream party.”“Georgia's local elections of 4 October 2025 took place in a restrictive environment, in the context of a months-long crackdown on civil society, independent media and political opposition by the self-appointed Georgian Dream authorities. We deplore the fact that the authorities effectively prevented the presence of credible election observers, with a late invitation to the OSCE/ODIHR and restrictions on civil society hampering observation by domestic organisations.We are concerned by the violent clashes in the streets following the elections and call for calm from all. We urge the Georgian Dream to stop its assault on democracy and respect the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly and expression, stop the arrests of protesters and release those arbitrarily detained. We also deplore the increasingly aggressive campaign against the EU, including personal attacks on the EU and Member State ambassadors, European politicians and individual Member States.We strongly denounce the Georgian Dream's declared intention to ban opposition parties, which would mark a new culmination of Georgia's slide towards an authoritarian regime. We reiterate our call on the EU and its Member States to take immediate action and to introduce personal sanctions against key Georgian Dream political leaders and officials responsible for democratic backsliding, electoral fraud, human rights violations and the persecution of political opponents and activists, in particular Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Kobakhidze”, - the statement reads.In response to recent developments in Georgia, several senior Members of the European Parliament have issued a joint statement expressing their position on the situation.The statement was authored and signed by: David McAllister, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) Mounir Satouri, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights Sergey Lagodinsky, Chair of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Nils Ušakovs, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the South Caucasus Rasa Juknevičienė, AFET Standing Rapporteur on Georgia

OSCE human rights office calls on Georgian authorities to respect free...

According to the statement, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expresses concern over the violent protests following Georgia’s recent local elections.“Peaceful protesters in Georgia continue to be detained, sentenced, and fined for exercising their rights. The authorities have an obligation to implement their OSCE human rights commitments and international obligations, including respect for the right to peaceful assembly”, said Maria Telalian, ODIHR Director. “I would like to urge once again the Georgian authorities to ensure that civil society and human rights defenders are not targeted and that their voices are heard, as their work is crucial in fostering a vibrant democratic society.”“Recent legislation restricting the work of civil society organizations continue to hinder their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and expression. As ODIHR noted last year in a legal review, the so-called ‘’foreign agents law’’ raises serious concerns, and it should be repealed.Georgia has committed to respect and protect the right to freedom of assembly in line with its international and OSCE human rights obligations. The detention, in recent months, of peaceful protesters, human rights defenders and opposition politicians, combined with the imposition of large fines for peaceful participation in assemblies goes against international human rights standards. As a general rule, law enforcement should avoid the use of force during public assemblies and facilitate them through dialogue and communication. In all circumstances, if force is used it must always be in accordance with the law, necessary, and proportionate to the needs of the situation.ODIHR also reiterates its regret that the invitation by the Georgian authorities to observe the local elections was issued less than a month before election day, leaving insufficient time for credible and meaningful observation in line with ODIHR’s established methodology. This has deprived the country’s citizens and institutions from an impartial, transparent, and comprehensive assessment.All OSCE states have recognized the importance of civil society to democracy and committed to ensuring the space necessary for meaningful and equal political participation. In line with its mandate, ODIHR stands ready to engage with Georgia and support the country in implementing its OSCE commitments with respect to the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” the statement reads.