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Georgian prison agency head Giorgi Pataridze resigned amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged assault on an inmate. He was replaced by Ramaz Tatarashvili, who previously headed the Shida Kartli regional police department.

Two minors were detained and charged with preparing to organize and participate in group violence over an alleged plot to attack a school in Tbilisi.

Opposition-led protest march took place in Tbilisi on October 25, launching a broader protest campaign to culminate in a larger demonstration on November 28 amid the ruling party’s efforts to ban opposition parties through Constitutional Court.

Opposition Alliance, uniting nine Georgian political parties, launched a protest campaign on October 25 to culminate in a large demonstration on November 28, as parties face ban through Georgian Dream's constitutional lawsuit. 📹 Nini Gabrirchidze/Civil.ge

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was in Budapest on October 23 to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian anti-Soviet uprising.

Read our weekly digest of key developments and discourses in and around the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, as well as those concerning Tbilisi–Moscow relations:

The prison term of ex-Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze was reduced to three years after reaching a plea agreement. He was also fined GEL 1 million and had assets worth millions of USD confiscated.

Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili hosted a meeting of counterparts from five Central Asian countries in Batumi, discussing bilateral partnerships and Middle Corridor cooperation amid Tbilisi's intensifying engagement with the region.

It's the third day of the Constitutional Court hearing Georgian Dream's opposition ban case in Batumi, and the judges have so far rejected all motions filed by the targeted opposition parties. Follow the proceedings here:

Polish authorities reported detaining a second suspect, a 22-year-old Georgian national, on suspicion of “aiding and abetting” the murder of Semyon Skrepetsky, a Russian artist critical of Putin and Kadyrov.

The 135th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place on October 22 in the village of Ergneti, near the occupation line in Georgia’s Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region.

Two Georgian citizens who were detained in 2024 near the Tskhinvali occupation line have been released and returned to the Tbilisi-controlled territory, Georgian security services reported on October 22.

Marat Kambolov appointed Soslan Margiev as de facto “prime minister” of occupied Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, culminating a series of appointments in the executive branch after "winning" the region’s early “presidential vote” in September.

Public Defender’s Office announced it had completed its reorganization. Deputy Ombudsperson told media that process led to abolition of Gender, Human Rights Education, and Strategic Litigation departments, and dismissal of seven staffers.

Appointment of First Deputy Foreign Minister Zurabashvili as PM’s Special Representative for Relations with Russia has drawn concerns that it may mark an expansion of the post's mandate and be a "form" of restoring diplomatic relations with Moscow.

Georgia's status was changed from “Free” to “Partly Free" in Freedom House's Freedom on the Net report, with watchdog citing “extended crackdown” on activism and “retaliation” against ruling party-critical online journalists and social media users.

Tamaz Elizbarashvili, a prominent animal rights defender and businessman, was released from custody after reaching a plea agreement in a case stemming from a confrontation involving staff of the pro-government Imedi TV channel.

Asaval-Dasavali journalist Dito Chubinidze has been arrested and will be charged with treason as prosecutors accuse him of deliberately spreading false reports about Irakli Kobakhidze handing parts of historic Davit Gareji complex to Azerbaijan.

First Deputy Foreign Minister George Zurabashvili has been appointed Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Relations with Russia while retaining his current position, Irakli Kobakhidze announced on October 21.

The National Bank of Georgia kept its key refinancing rate unchanged at 8.25% after its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on October 21, while raising its inflation forecast to 5.4% and economic growth projection to 7.2% for 2026.

Batumi-based Constitutional Court started hearing Georgian Dream's lawsuit seeking to ban five opposition parties. Follow the proceedings here:

CoE Secretary General Alain Berset called on Georgian ruling party “to uphold political pluralism and preserve the space for political opposition” a day before Georgia's Constitutional Court is set to start hearing opposition party ban case.

Judge Manana Kobakhidze spoke about “many factors” that led her to request recusal from the ruling party’s lawsuit to ban five opposition parties before her “personal” decision to quit the Constitutional Court on October 13.

Davit Peikrishvili, a figure associated with Georgia’s criminal underworld, was hospitalized with “multiple injuries” as his lawyer alleges attack in prison by newly detained inmates similarly associated with criminal underworld.

For Georgia, led by ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia, says it requested to examine its case separately from other opposition groups as Constitutional Court starts to hear Georgian Dream’s lawsuit seeking to declare five opposition parties unconstitutional.

Georgian Foreign Ministry accused EU representatives of interference and attempts of pressure after European Commission spokesperson criticised ruling party’s constitutional lawsuit seeking to ban five major opposition parties.

Georgia’s external trade grew by 9.2% in January-September 2026 year-on-year, according to Geostat's preliminary data. Motor cars remained leading trade commodity, while Kyrgyzstan was its largest export market and Turkey its top import partner.

Vakho Sanaia, Formula TV anchor and journalist, was sentenced to 30 days of administrative detention after the Interior Ministry filed another complaint against him over social media posts the Ministry deemed insulting to Georgian Dream figures.

Nana Keinishvili quit the central bank board a week after prosecutors announced a probe into alleged illegal business activities, and RFE/RL published a report suggesting she may have pressured a crypto company into giving up shares.

Georgian Dream founder and honorary chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, made a rare public appearance on October 17, chairing ruling party meetings focused on "current domestic and foreign policy issues."

The shares of Georgian Media Production Group, the company that owns the British-sanctioned, pro-government TV Imedi, have been redistributed among four people, who now hold equal 25% stakes in the company.

Kobakhidze met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of COP17 in Yerevan, with Pezeshkian calling for “practical cooperation” in economic and tourism spheres while criticizing U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Read our weekly digest of key developments and discourses in and around the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, as well as those concerning Tbilisi–Moscow relations:

Giorgi Kirvalidze, an athlete charged in October 4 unrest case, was detained on new criminal charges of contempt of court as he was leaving a detention facility after serving a 7-day administrative sentence for swearing at GD founder Ivanishvili.

Money transfers to Georgia from abroad fell by 10.1% year-on-year in September 2026, marking the biggest annual decline recorded so far this year amid drop in Russian transactions, according to the latest data published by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG).

Reiterating the pledge to spend EUR 38 million on new projects in Georgia, the EU Delegation in Georgia said the bloc no longer provides funding to Georgian authorities but continues to aid the “people of Georgia.”

Vakthang (Vato) Kipiani and Avtandil Bilanishvili, known as “Katsro,” two figures long associated with Georgia’s criminal underworld in media reports, have been arrested alongside another person, Shota Kipiani, on charges of group violence.

Viktor Japaridze, MP from GD’s offshoot People’s Power party, has sold his 52% stake in the pro-government channel POSTV, months after the channel was sanctioned by the United Kingdom over alleged involvement in “Russian disinformation.”

An inmate died in Kutaisi prison after reportedly falling from a bunk bed, Special Penitentiary Service said, citing accounts from cellmates.

Georgia’s Constitutional Court scheduled first hearings of Georgian Dream's lawsuit seeking to ban five opposition parties in October. Read our backgrounder about the case here:

Georgia’s High Council of Justice (HCOJ), a body supervising the Georgian judiciary, will restart the selection process for a Supreme Court judge after the sole candidate, Temur Gogokhia, withdrew on October 13, a day after advancing to the final stage.

Opposition Alliance announced an October 25 rally in Tbilisi, vowing to launch a larger movement as the Constitutional Court starts hearing Georgian Dream's case seeking to ban several opposition parties.

Suspect in transnational scheme that allegedly fabricated U.S. asylum claims for Georgians was extradited from Argentina to Georgia, in what authorities described as “precedent” and first such case involving a country outside Europe and the region:

Giorgi Varabiovi, a prison staffer identified in media reports as being among the guards featured in the alleged sexual assault of inmate Giorgi Davitadze, has left the Georgian Penitentiary Service, the agency confirmed.

Zurab Japaridze, leader of Girchi – More Freedom party, said he was detained in Turkey on his way to Brussels and will be sent back to Georgia. He said he was told about a ban on entering Turkey since November 2025.

Venice Commission warned that Georgia’s October 2025 legislative amendments that allow for extending the party ban to individuals risk "profoundly undermining” the country’s constitutional order rather than protecting it.

Venice Commission criticized Georgia’s March 4 amendments restricting foreign funding and political activities, warning that legislation imposes disproportionate and unnecessary restrictions on fundamental rights and political freedoms.

Judge Manana Kobakhidze has prematurely resigned from Georgian Constitutional Court after the court rejected her motion to recuse herself from a lawsuit filed by the ruling Georgian Dream party seeking to ban several opposition parties.

Vietnamese Vice President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân arrived in Georgia on October 12 for an official visit with a delegation.