Wiki Countries Georgia

Georgia

Country profile: how Georgia fits the patterns described in the main guide, with every development linked to its source.

Last updated . Every factual claim links to its source.

This profile mirrors and is kept in sync with the Georgia entry in the main guide's case studies.

Overview

The ruling party passed a Russian-style "foreign agents" law in 2024, disputed that October's election, and by late 2025 held more than 100 political prisoners. On October 4, 2025, protesters tried to storm the presidential palace after declaring the government illegitimate; security forces used water cannon and pepper spray, at least five people were arrested, and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned that further unrest would meet a "most severe response."

Democracy indicators

Liberal Democracy Index, 1990–2025

V-Dem's Liberal Democracy Index for Georgia was 0.13 in 1990, peaked at 0.52 in 2016, and stood at 0.28 in 2025 (scale 0–1). Dashed lines mark events described in the timeline below. Source: V-Dem via Our World in Data, retrieved November 7, 2026. Compare with other countries in the comparison tool.

Show the data
Country199020152025Regime type, 2025
Georgia0.130.500.28Electoral autocracy

Timeline

Key dated developments, each linked to the reporting that confirms it. Wording is kept neutral; where a government disputes a characterization, its stated position is included. See also the master timeline across all countries.

  1. Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition defeated President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement in parliamentary elections. Saakashvili conceded the next day. Source: Al Jazeera

  2. After three nights of mass protests, during which police used tear gas and water cannon, parliament voted down a 'foreign agents' bill. The government had said the bill was modelled on the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and was meant to increase transparency. Source: Al Jazeera

  3. Parliament overrode the president's veto and enacted a 'transparency of foreign influence' law. It requires media and NGOs that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as pursuing a foreign power's interests. Georgian Dream said the law counters harmful foreign actors; the EU said it harms Georgia's EU path. Source: AP via Anchorage Daily News

  4. Georgian Dream was declared the winner of parliamentary elections with about 54%. ODIHR said election-day practices 'compromised the ability of some voters to cast their vote without fear of retribution'. The prime minister said ODIHR found no irregularities at 76% of the stations it observed. Source: RFE/RL

  5. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said EU accession would be off the agenda until the end of 2028, accusing European politicians of 'blackmail'. Mass protests followed. Source: Al Jazeera

  6. Mikheil Kavelashvili, Georgian Dream's nominee, was elected president by a 300-member electoral college that the party controls. Outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili called the vote 'a parody'. Source: Voice of America

  7. Human Rights Watch reported that local monitors had counted more than 460 protesters arrested since November 28, with more than 300 detainees alleging ill-treatment or torture. Source: Human Rights Watch

  8. Parliament passed a Foreign Agents Registration Act that extends the 'foreign agent' definition to individuals and sets penalties of up to five years in prison for failing to register. Georgian Dream said it was modelled on US FARA. Source: Kyiv Independent

  9. A court sentenced Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, to two years in prison over a January 2025 incident in which she slapped Batumi's police chief. CPJ called the sentence 'disproportionate and politicized'. Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

  10. During local elections boycotted by the largest opposition blocs, some protesters tried to break into the presidential palace in Tbilisi; police used water cannon and pepper spray. Five activists were charged with calling for the overthrow of the authorities. Georgian Dream said it won every municipality. Source: Reuters via The Star

  11. Georgian Dream MPs filed a Constitutional Court suit to ban three opposition parties. Later filings added the Federalists (April 21, 2026) and For Georgia (September 24, 2026). Source: JAMnews

  12. The Constitutional Court opened hearings in Batumi on the five-party ban and rejected all opposition motions. A ruling is due by June 24, 2027. The prime minister calls the parties 'inherently unconstitutional'; the opposition calls the case politically motivated. Source: JAMnews; RFE/RL

Analytical lens

Concepts on this wiki that help explain this case: Competitive Authoritarianism, Democratic Backsliding and Executive Aggrandizement.

See also