Ivanishvili Chairs Georgian Dream Meetings Amid Protests and Legal Challenges

Ivanishvili Returns to Party Headquarters for Closed-Door Sessions

Bidzina Ivanishvili chaired a meeting of Georgian Dream’s political council and the parliamentary majority on October 17 at the party’s central office in Tbilisi. The event marked his first public appearance in several months, though the gathering was characterized by a lack of direct communication with the press. The party’s press office released only silent footage of the meetings. Ivanishvili did not speak to journalists during or after the sessions. Attendees at the political council included Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, and parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia. Zurab Pataradze also joined the political council. Kobakhidze stated that the meetings addressed current domestic and foreign policy issues. A party statement referred to discussions on "political and economic processes" and recent government initiatives. The gathering occurred while Ivanishvili remains under U.S. sanctions imposed in 2024.

Discussions on Corruption and Former Officials

Information regarding the content of the closed-door meetings emerged through official briefings and party statements rather than direct disclosure from Ivanishvili. Kobakhidze reported that Ivanishvili expressed "pain" over former teammates in prison. This comment likely referred to former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, who was convicted of large-scale corruption. Gharibashvili was sentenced to five years in prison in January 2026 under a plea agreement and faced a new bribery charge in August. He has since published letters from prison accusing Kobakhidze and former Deputy Prime Minister Mamuka Mdinaradze. Mdinaradze resigned on August 27 and denied any connection to the letters attributed to him by Gharibashvili. In response to the corruption allegations surrounding former officials, a party statement claimed that corruption problems within the team have been "fully and effectively" overcome.

Protests and Opposition Activity

As the ruling party held its meetings, citizens gathered outside the building to protest Ivanishvili’s influence. Demonstrators used slogans including "Georgia against Ivanishvili," "Supporting Georgian Dream = betraying the country," and "14 bloody years." The political tension coincides with upcoming legal proceedings for opposition groups. The Constitutional Court was scheduled to hear a case seeking to ban opposition parties on October 21, 22, and 23. An alliance of nine opposition parties announced a rally in Tbilisi on October 25 under the slogan "Georgia without Ivanishvili. Georgia deserves better." The protest follows months of political instability and legal challenges facing both the ruling party and its critics.