Jelger Groeneveld

All the same, the ministry of foreign affairs has invited diplomats this morning to update them in the elections and what happened on Saturday in the streets of Tbilisi. No further details known yet.

This "will be counterproductive as long as the Eurobureaucracy, led by the 'Deep State', makes a decision on the appointment of ambassadors", he said, leaving much ambiguity, suggesting the real solution would be to stop new ambassadors being appointed. Obviously this may not be the avenue pursued..

"ოცნება" ამბობს, რომ საჭიროა საზოგადოებას განუმარტოს, რატომ იკავებს თავს ელჩების გაძევებისგან "ქართული ოცნების" ერთპარტიული პარლამენტის საპარლამენტო უმრავლესობის ლიდერი ირაკლი კირცხალია აცხადებს...

Georgian Dream representatives toy around with expelling western ambassadors from Georgia for their alleged incitement of anti-constitutional actions by opposition.

Meanwhile, "if they are not expelled this should be explained to the public", MP/faction leader Kirtskhalia says
bm.ge/news/otsneba...

Hoe zit het met die eed die elk Kamerlid aflegt?

Talkshows zijn er niet om dat te snappen. Die zijn er om de volgende hype te helpen.

Also, speaker of parliament is aiming at the foreign ambassadors who have been “cultivating” Zurabishvili as the “legitimate president” and speaks of “they have a price to pay as well”.

Anti-Corruption Bureau Targets Two Political Platforms Amid Wider Crackdown - Civil Georgia The Anti-Corruption Bureau, a state agency, has targeted two political platforms - Freedom Square an

In the aftermath of the local elections in Georgia repression is ramping up with statement of government officials announcing holding people accountable of the “storming of the presidential office”.

Meanwhile, two new grassroots parties are put in the spotlight.

civil.ge/archives/705...

Yes, he says sensible things too.

Both ends were out of sync which both contributed to the failure.

What we do know from experience internationally and domestically in Georgia is that boycotts always ends in failure of the aim and strengthens incumbent regimes.

But then... blinded by self-righteousness.

His comment is out of place when other half of opposition tells voters to stay home and even calls Lelo and Gakharia traitors.

The failure of Saturday is the failure of the entire opposition.

Levan could show a bit more modesty and self-reflection here other than "I was right, you were wrong".

ლევან ცუცქირიძე - 4 ოქტომბრის აქციის ორგანიზატორების გადაწყვეტილებები იყო უპასუხისმგებლო, ჩვენ უარს ვამბობთ ძალადობრივ მოქმედებებზე, „ლელომ“ და გახარიას პარტიამ კი განიცადეს კრახი, მათთვის არაფერი მაქ... 4 ოქტომბრის აქციის ორგანიზატორების გადაწყვეტილებები იყო არასწორი და უპასუხისმგებლო,

Levan Tsutskiridze of Freedom Square finds it fitting to give Lelo (with which he worked together until this summer) and Gakharia an extra beating.

"It was a political collapse - They lost tens of thousands of votes with this decision [to participate]".
www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/8...

Dat weet ik niet, kijk er niet naar. Het probleem is groter dan SBS. Ook op de publieke tv kom je regelmatig dit soort bewust dommig commentaar tegen (hij weet vast beter, maar wil gewoon de stoere bink uithangen die "zegt war het op staat")

Ik snap niet dat dit soort gastjes nog zendtijd krijgen. Je kunt gerust begaan zijn met de wereld en tegelijkertijd met je directe omgeving. Maar dat komt op de tv niet op bij dit soort mannekes. Het is dit soort ergerlijke shit dat ik ook gewoon geen tv meer kijk.

Many commenters wondered why the hell they went there anyways, as the presidential office is precisely considered as meaningless. In any case, we will see more arrests in the coming days in relation to this. The government vowed to go after all participants.

The 5 men called for a "peaceful revolution". On Saturday night a part of the protesters went to the Presidential residence and demolished a weak part of the fence which is now used as evidence of the attempt to overthrow the government - while the president holds no real power.

The arrested "organizers" of the so-called "overthrow" of the government of Georgia on Saturday have been charged with this, which is punishable with up to 9 years prison.

In fact, this was a futile act, but the Georgian authorities won't let that pass to set the tone of what's to come.

* geen populaire boodschap. Afijn, goed en verhelderend artikel van Floris met goede quotes van Marika Mikiashvili (Droa) en Ghia Nodia die altijd "on point" is.

“D66 is altijd op tv”

Doet fact check.

“Ga es ff bij de opticien langs”

Protesten in Georgië zijn mislukt, constateert de oppositie: ‘We zijn op weg net als Wit-Rusland of Rusland te worden’ Protesten Georgië: Ondanks bijna een jaar van demonstraties slaagde de oppositie er niet in de Georgische regering te verdrijven. Ook de dag van de ‘vreedzame omverwerping’ leidde zaterdag tot niets.

Reportage vanuit Tbilisi van Floris Akkerman.

Ik zeg het al maanden. De weg naar “apotheose” afgelopen zaterdag in Tbilisi had alles om een flop te worden. Een revolutie kondig je niet aan. Boycot verkiezingen is een verliezersstrategie.

Maar het mocht niet gehoord.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

A Message from a Budding Autocracy - Coda Story A closer look at Georgia's spiral into autocracy under Bidzina Ivanishvili serves as a warning for countries who think they are safe.

A good story of the rundown of democracy in Georgia.

Ironically Saakashvili was pressured in 2012 to concede defeat to Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream to make sure Georgia remained part of the westen “democratic club”.

See where that landed Georgia.
www.codastory.com/rewriting-hi...

… denk daarbij aan demonstratierecht: gezichtsmaskers verbieden, “straat blokkeren” etcetera.

Autocraten cherrypicken legitimering van onderdrukkend bedoelde wetgeving en laten natuurlijk bewust context weg.

Juist daarom, wees altijd bedachtzaam voor de voorbeeldfunctie waar je dat niet wil zijn.

Denk bijvoorbeeld aan partijverboden.

Stokpaardje waarschuwing: in Georgië wordt bijvoorbeeld het voorgestelde partijverbod op pro-westerse oppositie gespiegeld en genormaliseerd aan de hand van handelen in Europese lidstaten. Zo ook andere onderwerpen die vrijheden beogen in te perken…

Klopt. Autocraten zoeken legitimering van rechtsstaat ondermijnende stappen door te wijzen naar dit of dat westers voorbeeld.

Trump zal er niet wakker van liggen, maar in de EU zullen we altijd terughoudend moeten zijn en reflecteren of iets in onze periferie als rechtvaardiging wordt ingezet.

Ministry of Internal Affairs: Yesterday, we took proportionate measures to ensure compliance with the law - any gatherings in the coming days will be considered a continuation of yesterday's attempt, ... The Ministry of Internal Affairs is issuing a statement regarding yesterday's protest rally.

Georgian government gave a clear warning of the things to come: repression and arrests in the aftermath of yesterday’s protests.

They consider any protest today and after as “continuation” of last night, which is seen as attempt to overthrow government.
www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/1...

Het verhaal van Joost. Verbannen uit Moskou. Verbannen uit Tbilisi. Nu in Yerevan.

This mindset has been fundamentally missing in Georgia.👇

In 2024 under flawed conditions the four main blocs received more votes in Tbilisi than GD.

Mobilizing voters, uniting and stepping over shadows and a win was possible. Would GD have allowed it? We will never know. This was the last shot.

Imagine what would have happened yesterday if all four main blocs would have truly united behind one list and a united set of candidates for districts and mayor, especially in Tbilisi.

Step over your own shadow. UNM telling their voters to vote for Gakharia in district X and vice versa.

In any case, the partially boycotted election doesn’t open doors to change at this stage.

The opposition needs to regroup, dismiss their old leaders, and search for new talents and leaders that can find the right strategy. If they will legally survive anyways.

CEC’s Preliminary Results: Georgian Dream Leads with 80.7% Nationwide - Civil Georgia The Central Election Commission (CEC) released preliminary results of the October 4 municipal electi

A little wrap up. In Tbilisi the turnout was 31.1%, the lowest throughout the country.

Despite Georgian Dream boasting the country massively supports them as proof of their legitimacy, with 70% of capital snubbing the election and GD’s darling Kaladze must hurt some pride.
civil.ge/archives/704...

Impressions by Radio Tavisupleba (RFE/RL) on the elections in Georgia yesterday. “Empty and dirty elections”

Empty polling stations and passive aggressiveness towards journalists by local election commission members and the few voters “you’re all lying!”
www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/%E1%83%AA%...