Katie Shoshiashvili

It represents a clear signal from the Ivanishvili regime that, in a multipolar system, it has aligned itself with a bloc led by Russia, whose proclaimed neutrality status comes at the expense of security and sovereignty.

Today Oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili's handyman and Georgian Dream's self-proclaimed PM Irakli Kobakhidze posed with Vladimir Putin at the International Forum Peace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Georgian diplomacy and foreign policy continue to reach new lows, but today’s appearance goes even further.

The Georgian authorities described the BBC’s findings as ‘absurd’ and stated that law enforcement acted ‘within the bounds of the law and the constitution’ when responding to the ‘illegal actions of brutal criminals."

The BBC spoke with victims, high-level whistleblowers, weapons experts, toxicologists, and doctors to uncover the likely identity of the unknown chemical in the water cannons that was described by one man as being ten times stronger than regular tear gas.

In response, the police deployed thousands of officers, tear gas, and water cannons against them. Protesters soon began to report worrying symptoms; breathing difficulties, skin irritation, and even vomiting after being struck by riot control measures.

But a year ago in Winter 2024, as the protests were just beginning, the police used measures against the crowds that few had anticipated.

Tens of thousands had taken to the streets after the government announced that it would delay accession talks to join the European Union.

The Georgian capital, Tbilisi, has experienced some of the longest running anti-government protests in Europe. Demonstrators attempt to block the city’s main street night after night.

YouTube video by BBC World Service When Water Burns: The Fight for Georgia - BBC World Service Documentaries

"A year-long investigation by #BBCEye into claims that police in Georgia used chemicals mixed in water cannons against its own citizens during protests in 2024.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4-k...

WW1 toxic compound sprayed on Georgian protesters, BBC evidence suggests Anti-government demonstrators are likely to have been targeted with camite, our investigation finds.

“Georgia's authorities used a World War One-era chemical weapon to quell anti-government protesters last year, evidence gathered by the BBC suggests.” www.bbc.com/news/article...

A protester was kidnapped by police from a seat in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi.

Day 361 of #GeorgiaProtests Video via @publikage.bsky.social

In the hours that followed, 6 more protesters were taken into custody.
After the wave of arrests, protesters returned to the Parliament, where protests are being held for 360 consecutive days. Videos via @publikage.bsky.social Photo via @netgazeti.org

Shortly afterward, police detained another protester, Lida Tsomaia, on the same sidewalk outside Parliament. Following her arrest, demonstrators attempted to march toward the Government Chancellery, but police blocked the route and redirected the crowd.

The first detained was Sopho Markozia, who had climbed onto a small raised platform on the sidewalk in front of the Georgian Parliament to wave a flag. Police had reportedly barred protesters from using the platform. Video captured officers pulling Markozia down and placing her in a police vehicle.

🇬🇪 Daily arrests of peaceful protesters, in an effort to crush almost a year of resistance in Georgia: On the 360th straight day of protests, police arrested 8 protesters (and reportedly 1 journalist) without explanation. Among arrested are a teacher, activist, several students, and artists.

Months later, Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Galustashvili sentenced a 21 years old Mate Devidze, to 4 years and 6 months in prison. Tomorrow, Mate’s case will be heard in the Court of Appeals. x.com/kshoshiashvi...

A dozen activists were arrested at the rally in support of Mate Devidze yesterday. Mate was arbitrarily arrested a year ago on charges of attacking the police.

Arbitrary arrests from yesterday’s protest. Some protesters have been detained multiple times, some spend days or weeks in administrative detention facilities. Video footage again by @publikage.bsky.social

The arbitrary arrest from today’s protest rally, which is an event of everyday life in Georgia. Video by @publikage.bsky.social

In response, demonstrators have begun marching through adjacent streets and blocking them.

Over the past week, the regime’s police have adopted new measures to suppress the rallies on Rustaveli. In addition to administrative detentions, fines, and instances of physical force, officers now form a continuous line along the avenue, to block protesters from standing on the street.

🇬🇪 Georgia: Day 358 of nonstop protests. Citizens continue to face daily illegal detentions for simply standing on Rustaveli Avenue. Yesterday, on the one-year anniversary of the arrest of the regime’s prisoner Mate Devidze, police arrested more than ten demonstrators. Video: @publikage.bsky.social

Tbilisi last night, day 354 of #GeorgiaProtests. Photo by @publikage.bsky.social

Pursuant to Section 61, Paragraph two of the Immigration Law, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, @baibabraze.bsky.social, took a decision to include two citizens of Georgia in the list of personae non gratae in Latvia, and to subject them to a ban on entering Latvia for an indefinite period of time.

Georgian police raid homes of former officials including ex-prime minister Authorities in Georgia have been clamping down on figures accused of trying to overthrow the government.

www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...

The Venice Commission recommends repealing virtually all repressive laws introduced by Georgian Dream in the past two years, including the Georgian Dream’s foreign agents law, and amending the Law on Broadcasting, grants, and related regulations.

www.coe.int/en/web/venic...

Political parties that violate these bans could face fines or registration refusals.

Georgian Dream’s Irakli Kobakhidze has already threatened to ban 10 opposition parties.

The amendments affect the laws on the Constitutional Court, Political Unions, the Election Code, and the Criminal Code. They would prohibit such individuals from founding or joining parties, running in elections, or holding office.

On October 13, 2025, Georgian Dream began an expedited consideration of a legislative package that would ban individuals associated with a political party prohibited by the Constitutional Court from engaging in party activities, holding state or political office, and participating in elections.

It is the second time that the Georgian ruling party, “Georgian Dream,” has invited politically biased observers to obscure irregularities flagged by credible observers in elections since the contested 2024 parliamentary vote."

"EPDE identified 29 fake observers who assisted the Georgian government in lending an appearance of legitimacy to the local elections on October 4, 2025.

epde.org?news=stateme...