Georgian Dream authorities responded with repression to the wave of protests that erupted after the October 26, 2024, elections and the ruling party’s subsequent announcement about halting EU integration. The crackdown has involved arrests, prosecutions, restrictive legislation targeting NGOs, media, and opposition groups, purges in the civil service, and unpunished physical violence by police and party-linked thugs.
Below we have compiled key figures on the continuing repression, based on Civil.ge’s calculations, official data, and statistics from civic initiatives. The figures will be regularly updated as the situation evolves, new circumstances arise, and more data become available.
1. Arrests and Trials
Over 60 people are currently regarded as political prisoners by civic initiatives. These include up to 40 individuals detained on criminal charges in the context of protests since last November, 11 opposition figures jailed and/or sentenced on different charges, 9 persons arrested during the spring protest movement against the “foreign agents” law, at least 3 business figures, and 4 miners whose arrests are attributed to local protests.
The breakdown:
At least 46 persons were detained and remanded in custody in the context of pro-EU, anti-Georgian Dream protests since November 2024 on criminal charges, 35 of which have already been sentenced to jail, 3 were acquitted and released, 4 more were found guilty but released with fines, while 4 await their verdicts. Specifically:
- 35 of 46 have been handed jail sentences, including Andro Chichinadze, Onise Tskhadadze, Guram Mirtskhulava, Luka Jabua, Jano Archaia, Ruslan Sivakov, Revaz Kiknadze, Giorgi Terashvili, Valeri Tetrashvili, Sergey Kukharchuk, Irakli Kerashvili, Saba Skhvitaridze, Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vepkhia Kasradze, Vasil Kadzelashvili, Giorgi Gorgadze, Irakli Miminoshvili, Insaf Aliev, Tornike Goshadze, Nikoloz Javakhishvili, Anton Chechin, Archil Museliantsi, Davit Khomeriki, Anatoli Gigauri, Temur Zasokhashvili, Davit Lomidze, Mzia Amaghlobeli, Anri Kakabadze, Anri Kvaratskhelia, Saba Jikia, Giorgi Mindadze, Mate Devidze, Denis Kulanin, Daniel Mumladze, and Guram Khutashvili.
- 4 persons – Mamuka Jorbenadze, Guram Mikeladze, Davit Gvianidze, and Giorgi Davitadze – were found guilty of group violence but released with fines, having spent two months in pre-trial custody.
- 1 person among those sentenced to jail – Anri Kakabadze – has left prison after serving a term of 9 months.
- Out of 6 individuals detained on drug charges linked to activism, 3 were acquitted, including Nika Katsia, Tedo Abramovi, and Giorgi Akhobadze, while 3 more – Anton Chechin, Anastasia Zinovkina, and Artem Gribul were each handed eight years and six months in prison.
- 2 detainees – Mindia Shervashidze and Tornike Toshkhua – await trial after being detained in August on charges of group violence.
- Two more are tried and await verdicts on individual charges, including Nino Datashvili (assault on an officer) and Zviad Ratiani (assault on police).
- 4 out of the above-listed 46 detainees are Russian citizens: Artem Gribul, Anastasia Zinovkina, Anton Chechin, and Denis Kulanin. 2 more detainees are Ukrainian citizens: Ruslan Sivakov and Sergey Kukharchuk.
11 political figures are currently in jail after having been detained in recent months, including:
- 6 opposition figures – Irakli Okruashvili, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Givi Targamadze, Giorgi Vashadze, and Zurab Japaridze remain in jail after being convicted over boycotting the “Tsulukiani Commission,” an investigative body in Georgian Dream’s one-party parliament. 6 of the “Tsulukiani Commission” convicts are active leaders of opposition parties. 2 more – Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaradze – were also sentenced, but left prison early after Mikheil Kavelashvili’s pardon in September.
- United National Movement member Lasha Tsanava was detained in July on fraud allegations.
- UNM members Levan Khabeishvili and Zviad Kuprava were detained over their mobilizing calls in connection with the October 4 rally and elections.
- Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the Droa party, member of the opposition Coalition for Change, remains in detention on charges of “property damage” for scribbling on Georgian Dream campaign banners as she refuses to pay bail set by the court for her release.
- Gela Khasaia, opposition Girchi – More Freedom member, was arrested on dubious violence charges that critics see as politically motivated.
4 protesting miners in Chiatura – Giorgi Neparidze, Merab Saralidze, Tengiz Gvelesiani, and Archil Chumburidze – remain in pre-trial custody after being detained on group violence charges.
3 business figures – Irakli Papiashvili, Giorgi Chikvaidze, and Giorgi Bachiashvili – have been convicted on financial crimes, all alleging political motives and personal retribution from Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.
9 persons remain in jail after being detained and convicted in the context of spring protests against the foreign agents law, including: Omar Okribelashvili, Saba Meparishvili, Pridon Bubuteishvili, Davit Koldari, Giorgi Kuchuashvili, Giorgi Okmelashvili, Irakli Megvinetukhutsesi, who were convicted on protest-related charges, and Ucha Abashidze and Mariam Iashvili, who were arrested in a similar context but convicted for illegally obtaining and storing secrets of private life.
2. NGO and Media Crackdown
Since November 2024, the Georgian Dream parliament has passed a number of repressive laws, cracking down on freedom of expression, press freedom, and freedom of association, among others. Here are the key numbers:
Over ten active NGOs and at least 5 initiatives in total were targeted with different inspections and probes, including:
- 8 NGOs reported in June being inspected by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, a public body, based on three laws, including Georgia’s Law on Political Associations, the Law on Grants, and the Law on Combating Corruption; They were asked to hand over confidential data. The list of organizations: The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Transparency International (TI) Georgia, Sapari, Economic Policy Research Center, Civil Society Foundation, Georgia’s Future Academy, Social Justice Center, and Media Development Foundation.
- 7 NGOs (out of the above eight) reported in August receiving inspection notices from the Anti-Corruption Bureau under the Georgian version of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), demanding explanations for not registering as foreign agents and warning of criminal liability. List of organizations: The Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), Civil Society Foundation, Sapari, Transparency International – Georgia, Media Development Foundation, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), and Social Justice Center;
- 7 NGOs got their accounts frozen in August under an ongoing “sabotage” criminal probe, with prosecutors alleging the NGOs helped demonstrators during the 2024 protests; List of organizations: Civil Society Foundation (CSF), the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Democracy Defenders, Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI), Sapari, and the Social Justice Center (SJC);
- The bank accounts of 5 other initiatives, including solidarity funds like Nanuka’s Fund and Human Rights House that helped pay protest fines, were frozen in the same “sabotage” probe in March.
- Up to 30 NGOs received inspection requests from the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau under the Law on Grants, which was amended in April to bar foreign donors from funding local groups without government approval.
Media:
- More than 20 online media outlets are campaigning to raise funds, both individually and collectively, after FARA and amendments to the Law on Grants restricted their access to vital foreign funding.
- At least 3 media organizations – including Batumelebi/Netgazeti outlet and two broadcasters – Radio Tbilisi and Trialeti TV – said authorities seized their accounts, citing outstanding debts despite their commitments to pay.
- At least 5 media groups – including outlets 65, iFact, Mtis Ambebi, and Realpolitika, as well as the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics reported inspection by the Anti-Corruption Bureau under the amended grants law.
- 3 media organizations – including 2 TV channels TV Pirveli and Formula TV, as well as Mtavari Arkhi, which went off air in 2025 over financial problems – were served with complaints from the ruling party under new broadcasting laws introducing content regulation. The state regulator found channels in violation.
- 1 TV Channel, Mtavari Arkhi, went off air in the spring, citing financial problems.
- 1 media organization, Mtavari Arkhi, currently operating online, is facing a criminal probe on alleged financial misconduct.
3. Civil Service Purges
- Between 700 and 1,000 employees were dismissed as part of what is believed to be politically motivated civil service purges since November 28, 2024, according to the assessment by Article 78 of the Constitution, and an independent union of Georgian civil servants. Many dismissals occurred as part of “reorganization” in several ministries, and followed repressive laws making it easier to dismiss public employees.
4. Violations Against Journalists
- Center for Media, Information, and Social Studies (CMIS), a local media watchdog, documented that 181 media representatives have been affected while covering the demonstrations from November 28, 2024, to October 2025.
- 25 journalists were fined GEL 5,000 (USD 1,800) for “blocking roads” while carrying out their duties, according to CMIS.
- At least 90 journalists have faced physical assault, verbal abuse, or obstruction during the first two weeks of violent police dispersals since November 28, 2024, according to the International Press Institute (IPI) global network.
5. Fines, Detentions, Physical Violence
- Over 400 people were detained in the initial weeks of the protests that erupted on November 28, 2024. Most were detained on administrative charges.
- Many detainees reported beatings and inhumane treatment, with the Public Defender’s report noting that 60% of 442 detainees visited by its representatives between November 28, 2024, and March 1, 2025, said they had been mistreated. According to the report, the share was particularly high among those detained in the initial days of protests and during the February 2, 2025, highway rally.
- More than 300 people have been tortured or ill-treated, with more than 80 requiring hospitalisation in the first two weeks of pro-EU protests, a group of Georgian NGOs reported in December.
- Dozens more were subjected to violence from thugs believed to be linked to the ruling party.
- Hundreds of protesters were reportedly slapped with heavy USD 1,800 fines for “blocking roads”, following December 2024 legislative changes that drastically increased the fine amount.
- At least 6 individuals were placed in administrative detention (one of them twice) on charges of ‘insulting’ officials in public spaces or on social media, while dozens of others were fined on the same grounds, following legislative changes introducing penalties for such acts.
- 2 activists, Nika Narsia and Konstantine Mikaia, were sentenced to 15 and 10 days of administrative detention for repeated “road blockage” after refusing to pay fines for the same earlier offense.
0 police officers have been held accountable despite numerous documented abuses during the dispersals.
6. Political Parties and Movements
At least 2 political platforms reported targeting by by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, resulting in the court granting the Bureau access to the personal bank accounts of its members.
Last update: October 8, 2025