Latest news with #CoalitionforChange
OC Media
07-07-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
Georgian President Kavelashvili offers pardons to jailed opposition if they take part in elections
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili has said he was ready to pardon opposition leaders who were arrested in recent weeks, if they express a desire to participate in the October 2025 municipal elections. Kavelashvili made this statement against the backdrop of a declared boycott of the elections by numerous opposition parties. According to him, 'It is important that all political parties registered in accordance with Georgian legislation and expressing a desire to participate in the elections take part fully in these elections'. 'I am offering all relevant convicted politicians to submit a request for a pardon, and in the same request confirm their desire to participate in the elections', Kavelashvili added, noting that 'in the event of such a request, I will immediately issue a decree pardoning the relevant convicts'. Kavelashvili's statement was preceded by the recent announcement of months-long prison sentences for eight opposition figures, including political leaders, after they boycotted Georgian Dream's parliamentary commission. Georgian Dream officials welcomed the president's statement, with ruling party MP Levan Machavariani saying that no one should be left with 'a field for speculation' about Georgian Dream arresting opposition figures because of their 'high ratings, as some talk about abroad, in the West'. In contrast, the opposition dismissed Kavelashvili's offer, with the Coalition for Change saying that the statement reflected Georgian Dream's attempt to 'bargain with the freedom of political prisoners'. Advertisement 'It has become clear that the regime sees participation by pro-Western forces in the so-called local elections as the only way to secure its own legitimacy', added the coalition. Most of the group's leaders are currently imprisoned. United National Movement (UNM) leader Tina Bokuchava responded similarly, stating that 'Ivanishvili's regime desperately needs legitimacy'. 'This [offer] once again confirms that our joint efforts, both internationally and within the country, which were aimed at non-recognition of the regime, were very correctly focused', she told TV Pirveli. For boycott supporters, taking part in the elections would amount to undermining the policy of refusing to recognise Georgian Dream's legitimacy following the disputed 2024 parliamentary elections, which were marred by major violations. As part of that policy of non-recognition, all major opposition parties have been boycotting parliament. However, there is only partial consensus within the opposition regarding the boycott. On Saturday, Lelo officially confirmed its decision to participate in the local elections, seeing them as another battleground against Georgian Dream. Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia's party, For Georgia, also declared it was preparing for the elections. Among the imprisoned opposition leaders are Lelo's founders, Badri Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze. However, the party ruled out accepting Kavelashvili's offer regarding a pardon. According to a survey conducted by Social Studies and Analysis (ISSA) in June, only 20% of pro-Western opposition voters support the unconditional participation of opposition parties in the 2025 local elections. Of voters in the same category, 43% said the opposition should boycott the elections, while 26% said opposition parties should participate in the local vote only if early parliamentary elections are held beforehand or simultaneously. In contrast, an absolute majority of Georgian Dream and its satellite party People's Power voters — 70% — support unconditional opposition participation in the municipal elections.
Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Georgia jails three opposition politicians, including bank founder
FILE PHOTO: Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change opposition party, accused of failing to fulfil the demands of the Georgian parliament's temporary investigative commission probing the activities of the 2003-2012 government and its officials, attends a court hearing in Tbilisi, Georgia May 22, 2025. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze/Pool/ File Photo Three Georgian opposition politicians were sentenced to months in prison on Monday, the first to be convicted in a series of prosecutions targeting government critics who refused to give evidence to lawmakers. Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, leading figures in the opposition Lelo for Georgia party, were both sentenced to eight months, while Zurab Japaridze of the Coalition for Change bloc received seven months. Khazaradze is a co-founder of London-listed TBC Bank, one of Georgia's largest. Authorities have launched a string of cases against people accused of refusing to testify to a parliamentary commission investigating alleged wrongdoing under jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who led the South Caucasus country from 2004 to 2012. Four other people are also being prosecuted. Georgian authorities have moved to clamp down on leading figures of the pro-European Union opposition as street protests continue over a disputed October election and a subsequent government decision to halt talks on joining the EU. Khazaradze and both Japaridzes, who are not related, were also banned from holding public office for two years, the Interpress news agency reported. Their parties rejected last year's election result and accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of rigging the poll in order to win a fourth term. The government denies that allegation, but two U.S. pollsters said there was evidence of manipulation. In a post on X, Khazaradze rejected the court's ruling, saying the parliamentary commission "has no real function" and pointing out he did not hold public office during the period the body is investigating. Spokespeople for the parties of the jailed politicians did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Traditionally one of the most pro-Western countries to emerge from the Soviet Union, Georgia has taken a sharply authoritarian turn in recent years, critics say. Georgian Dream has passed a slew of laws clamping down on foreign-funded organisations operating in the country, and on LGBT people. Georgian Dream says it still wants to join the EU but also wants to preserve the country's traditional values and keep peace with its huge northern neighbour, Russia. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia jails third opposition leader as crackdown expands
By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) -Georgian opposition politician Nika Gvaramia was placed in pre-trial detention on Friday for up to nine months, the latest of several prominent government critics to be jailed. Having weathered mass demonstrations over a disputed October election and a subsequent decision to halt talks on joining the European Union, Georgian authorities have moved to clamp down on leading figures of the protest movement. Gvaramia had refused to testify to a parliamentary commission investigating alleged wrongdoing under jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who was in power from 2004 to 2012. If convicted of failing to comply with the commission, he could be jailed for up to one year. Gvaramia is a leader of the pro-Western Coalition for Change bloc which came second in the October election that the opposition rejected as fraudulent. The government rejected the allegation, but two U.S. polling organisations said there was evidence of manipulation. Gvaramia did not attend his court hearing, instead reporting to prison before the verdict was announced, in what his party said was an effort to show the decision was pre-determined by a biased court. In a post on Facebook, he wrote: "Not one step back! Our homeland is behind us! The oligarchy must fall! Glory to Georgia!" Two other Coalition for Change leaders, Zurab Japaridze and Nika Melia, are already in jail on similar charges. A media entrepreneur who served under Saakashvili in a series of ministerial roles, Gvaramia was previously imprisoned for abuse of office from 2022 to 2023, in a case Western countries said was politically motivated. Traditionally one of the Soviet Union's most pro-Western and democratic successor states, Georgia has moved in a sharply authoritarian direction in the past two years, with the ruling Georgian Dream party passing a series of laws critics have described as draconian. Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire ex-prime minister widely seen as the country's most powerful man, has repeatedly pledged to ban opposition parties, whilst also presiding over warming ties with Russia and souring relations with the West. Earlier this week, authorities issued court summons to over a dozen activists, journalists and opposition politicians on charges of insulting ruling party lawmakers. On Thursday, a court jailed a 21-year-old protester for four and a half years for assaulting police, in a case government critics have said is fabricated.
The Star
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Georgia jails third opposition leader as crackdown expands
FILE PHOTO: Leader of the Coalition for Change party Nika Gvaramia, who was arrested amid Georgian opposition protests against the government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks, reacts inside an enclosure for defendants during a court hearing in Tbilisi, Georgia December 6, 2024. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze/File photo TBILISI (Reuters) -Georgian opposition politician Nika Gvaramia was placed in pre-trial detention on Friday for up to nine months, the latest of several prominent government critics to be jailed. Having weathered mass demonstrations over a disputed October election and a subsequent decision to halt talks on joining the European Union, Georgian authorities have moved to clamp down on leading figures of the protest movement. Gvaramia had refused to testify to a parliamentary commission investigating alleged wrongdoing under jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who was in power from 2004 to 2012. If convicted of failing to comply with the commission, he could be jailed for up to one year. Gvaramia is a leader of the pro-Western Coalition for Change bloc which came second in the October election that the opposition rejected as fraudulent. The government rejected the allegation, but two U.S. polling organisations said there was evidence of manipulation. Gvaramia did not attend his court hearing, instead reporting to prison before the verdict was announced, in what his party said was an effort to show the decision was pre-determined by a biased court. In a post on Facebook, he wrote: "Not one step back! Our homeland is behind us! The oligarchy must fall! Glory to Georgia!" Two other Coalition for Change leaders, Zurab Japaridze and Nika Melia, are already in jail on similar charges. A media entrepreneur who served under Saakashvili in a series of ministerial roles, Gvaramia was previously imprisoned for abuse of office from 2022 to 2023, in a case Western countries said was politically motivated. Traditionally one of the Soviet Union's most pro-Western and democratic successor states, Georgia has moved in a sharply authoritarian direction in the past two years, with the ruling Georgian Dream party passing a series of laws critics have described as draconian. Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire ex-prime minister widely seen as the country's most powerful man, has repeatedly pledged to ban opposition parties, whilst also presiding over warming ties with Russia and souring relations with the West. Earlier this week, authorities issued court summons to over a dozen activists, journalists and opposition politicians on charges of insulting ruling party lawmakers. On Thursday, a court jailed a 21-year-old protester for four and a half years for assaulting police, in a case government critics have said is fabricated. (Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Georgia jails third opposition leader as crackdown expands
FILE PHOTO: Leader of the Coalition for Change party Nika Gvaramia, who was arrested amid Georgian opposition protests against the government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks, reacts inside an enclosure for defendants during a court hearing in Tbilisi, Georgia December 6, 2024. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze/File photo TBILISI - Georgian opposition politician Nika Gvaramia was placed in pre-trial detention on Friday for up to nine months, the latest of several prominent government critics to be jailed. Having weathered mass demonstrations over a disputed October election and a subsequent decision to halt talks on joining the European Union, Georgian authorities have moved to clamp down on leading figures of the protest movement. Gvaramia had refused to testify to a parliamentary commission investigating alleged wrongdoing under jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who was in power from 2004 to 2012. If convicted of failing to comply with the commission, he could be jailed for up to one year. Gvaramia is a leader of the pro-Western Coalition for Change bloc which came second in the October election that the opposition rejected as fraudulent. The government rejected the allegation, but two U.S. polling organisations said there was evidence of manipulation. Gvaramia did not attend his court hearing, instead reporting to prison before the verdict was announced, in what his party said was an effort to show the decision was pre-determined by a biased court. In a post on Facebook, he wrote: "Not one step back! Our homeland is behind us! The oligarchy must fall! Glory to Georgia!" Two other Coalition for Change leaders, Zurab Japaridze and Nika Melia, are already in jail on similar charges. A media entrepreneur who served under Saakashvili in a series of ministerial roles, Gvaramia was previously imprisoned for abuse of office from 2022 to 2023, in a case Western countries said was politically motivated. Traditionally one of the Soviet Union's most pro-Western and democratic successor states, Georgia has moved in a sharply authoritarian direction in the past two years, with the ruling Georgian Dream party passing a series of laws critics have described as draconian. Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire ex-prime minister widely seen as the country's most powerful man, has repeatedly pledged to ban opposition parties, whilst also presiding over warming ties with Russia and souring relations with the West. Earlier this week, authorities issued court summons to over a dozen activists, journalists and opposition politicians on charges of insulting ruling party lawmakers. On Thursday, a court jailed a 21-year-old protester for four and a half years for assaulting police, in a case government critics have said is fabricated. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
