Georgia

New Georgian president sworn in; predecessor says he is not legitimate leader

29 Dec 2024 - 5:18PM

US imposes sanctions on Georgian billionaire ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili

28 Dec 2024 - 3:40AM

English Premier League

Ex-Man City centre-forward Kavelashvili set to be Georgia’s new far-right president

The former Georgian footballer is known for his expletive-laden parliament speeches and tirades against government critics and LGBTQ people.

13 Dec 2024 - 9:30PM

Mikheil Kavelashvili, who co-founded the People’s Power party, was picked by the governing Georgian Dream party as loyalist. Photo: Reuters

Georgia opposition figures arrested as pro-EU protests continue

Protests continued for the seventh evening in a row after Georgian police arrest main opposition leader.

5 Dec 2024 - 12:35PM

Georgia police accused of torturing pro-EU protesters

Ombudsman blasts police over treatment of demonstrators who are angry over decision to suspend talks with EU.

4 Dec 2024 - 11:39AM

Georgia president demands fresh parliamentary elections as protests continue

Protests in Georgia spread and tensions rise after the government suspended talks on joining the European Union.

2 Dec 2024 - 1:40PM

Demonstrators use firecrackers against police in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: AP

Third night of protests after Georgia suspends EU talks

Demonstrations – with some police using water cannons and tear gas – began following the suspension of talks to join the European bloc.

1 Dec 2024 - 9:36PMvideocam

Georgia suspends talks on joining EU for 4 years, triggering new protests

Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, but its relationship with the bloc has deteriorated significantly in recent months.

29 Nov 2024 - 4:05PM

Tens of thousands protest in Georgia over ‘stolen’ election

Georgia’s pro-Western president has alleged that the country’s weekend parliamentary election was rigged with the help of Russia.

29 Oct 2024 - 9:08AM

Thousands of people protested outside Georgia’s parliament in Tbilisi on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Georgia was victim of Russian ‘special operation’ in election, president says

Salome Zourabichvili said she did not recognise vote results, showing lead for ruling Georgian Dream, called for mass protest on Monday.

28 Oct 2024 - 4:33AM

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili casts her ballot at a polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia on Saturday. Photo; AP

Georgia ruling party win election seen as choice between Russia, West

With most of the votes counted, Georgian Dream was declared the winner of the country’s parliamentary election.

27 Oct 2024 - 4:00PM

Georgia votes in key test for democracy, EU ambitions

The election result will determine the fledgling party’s European aspirations amid growing concerns over the ruling party’s pro-Russia drift.

26 Oct 2024 - 7:30PM

Georgian president delivers pro-EU message at rally as election looms

October 26 election is widely viewed as a test of whether Georgia returns to Russia’s orbit or maintains its pro-Western orientation.

21 Oct 2024 - 11:33AM

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili speaks at the pro-Europe rally in Tbilisi. Photo: EPA-EFE

Euro 2024

Spain come from behind to thrash Georgia and set up quarter-final with Germany

Goals from Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo see La Roja overcome the surprise package.

1 Jul 2024 - 1:13PM

Spain’s Nico Williams celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal against Georgia at the Euro 2024 football tournament in Cologne, Germany on Sunday. Photo: AP

EU puts Georgia’s membership bid on hold over ‘foreign agent’ law

The bloc’s leaders called on authorities to reverse course on the controversial legislation, which opponents fear will silence critics.

28 Jun 2024 - 7:49AM

LGBTQ

Georgia’s LGBTQ community fears Russia-style crackdown in new law proposal

The new, proposed laws would prohibit the promotion of same-sex relationships on television and in the education system, outlaw sex changes, and codify a ban on same-sex marriage.

8 Jun 2024 - 8:27AMvideocam

United States

US imposes travel bans on Georgia officials over ‘foreign agents’ law

New law in Georgia has been compared to Russian legislation used to suppress dissent, drawing criticism from the West, including Washington.

7 Jun 2024 - 1:16PM

Students protest against the ‘foreign agents’ law in Tbilisi, Georgia on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Georgia adopts ‘foreign influence’ law despite protests, president’s veto

The law has been compared to Russian legislation used to suppress dissent, and the West warns it could jeopardise Georgia’s path to joining the EU.

29 May 2024 - 10:50AM

Georgia President Salome Zourabichvili vetoes controversial ‘Russian law’

The ruling party, however, has a sufficient majority to override the veto, despite fears that the legislation will obstruct the country’s bid to join the EU.

19 May 2024 - 12:50AM

More protests in Georgia after parliament passes ‘foreign influence’ law

Huge throngs of protesters blocked streets in the capital of Georgia and milled angrily outside the parliament building after lawmakers approved a bill that critics call a Russian-style threat to free speech.

15 May 2024 - 1:53PM

Georgian protesters rally in Tbilisi on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Georgian lawmakers brawl as ‘foreign agent’ bill, that sparked protests, passes

The Georgian parliament approved a divisive bill that sparked weeks of mass protests, with critics seeing it as a threat to democratic freedoms and the country’s aspirations to join the EU.

14 May 2024 - 10:03PM

Georgian lawmakers fight during a parliament session in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: Mtavari Channel via AP

Thousands in Georgia join protest despite warnings of arrests

Several thousand Georgians gathered outside parliament in Tbilisi on Sunday night in a fresh protest against a Russian-styled ‘foreign agent’ bill.

13 May 2024 - 11:03AM

US ‘alarmed’, 50,000 protest Georgia’s foreign agent bill

Opponents of the bill have dubbed it ‘the Russian law’, comparing it to legislation used to target critics of President Vladimir Putin.

12 May 2024 - 1:45PM

Mass protests in Georgia at proposed ‘Russian law’ targeting media

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Georgia against a controversial ‘foreign influence’ bill after parliament advanced the measure.

2 May 2024 - 10:34AM

Protestors clash with riot police in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

20,000 Georgians ‘March for Europe’, protest ‘foreign influence’ bill

Protesters called on the government to scrap the controversial bill which the European Union has warned would undermine Tbilisi’s European aspirations.

29 Apr 2024 - 12:54PM

People protest in Tbilisi, Georgia on Sunday. Photo: Reuters