Crisis Chronology

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GEORGIA

03/08/2023

Security forces use tear gas and water cannon against protestors outside parliament opposing a new law that would require media outlets who receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as “agents of foreign influence.” Their have been protests for several days. President Salome Zourabichvili has said she would veto the bill. Parliament can override presidential vetoes. The EU has said that passing this bill would jeopardize Georgia’s possible future entry into the EU.

05/13/2022

South Ossetia government, led by Anatoly Bibilov, orders a referendum on joining Russian Federation on 7/17.

03/03/2022

Government says it will immediately submit a request to be admitted to the EU, in the context of the war in Ukraine.

11/17/2021

Saakashvili in critical condition, but government refuses to transport him from the prison hospital to a civilian hospital.

11/08/2021

Saakashvili is transferred to a hospital as his condition worsens during his hunger strike.

10/03/2021

Georgian Dream wins most local elections. Observers have reported irregularities by the party.

10/02/2021

Saakashvili, having returned to campaign against Georgian Dream in local elections, is arrested on long-outstanding warrant.

07/11/2021

Substantial protests after LGBTQ activists are attacked and one journalist dies from his wounds.

02/22/2021

Garibashvili elected prime minister

Iraki Garabashvili, former prime minister and government official, is elected prime minister by Georgia Dream.

02/18/2021

Prime minister resigns

Gakharia resigns as prime minister after a court orders the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia of the United National Movement (UNM) party for failing to post bail. Melia is charged with inciting violence in 6/19 protests, a charge he calls politically motivated. The Interior Ministry is now delaying taking Melia into custody. Georgian Dream nominates Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili, a close aide to Ivanishvili, to be the next prime minister.

11/21/2020

Georgian Dream claims victory in parliament

In second round of voting for parliament, Georgian Dream, led by Giorigi Gakharia wins ninety seats, twenty-five less than in last election. The Strenth Is in Unity party also known as it was formerly, the United National Movement, led by Vakhtang Kikabidze is second with thirty-six seats, a gain of nine. The opposition disputes the results.

11/14/2020

Large protests against the initial results of the election.

10/31/2020

First round of voting for parliament. The number of seats elected on the basis of proportional party lists increases to 120 of the 150 seats. The other thirty seats are elected directly by constituencies that will have a representative singly.

10/31/2020

General election. The opposition has united to support the candidacy of Mikhail Saakashvili against Ivanishvili. Georgia Dream's popularity has fallen due to economic stagnation and claims of perceived backsliding on democracy.

10/31/2020

Early results give Georgian Dream just over 50% of the vote. The opposition rejects the results.

05/08/2020

Georgia recalls its ambassador to Ukraine after Mikhail Saakashvili is appointed chairman of the Ukrainian Executive Reform Committee.

03/21/2020

Government declares state of emergency due to COVID-19.

01/12/2020

Khadzhimba resigns

01/09/2020

Protestors break into Abkhazia Pres Raul Khadzhimba’s office, demanding his resignation, claiming widespread irregularities in September election.

11/25/2019

Large protests calling for electoral reform continue.

11/19/2019

Protests continue, now demanding early parliamentary elections. Protestors blocking government buildings are dispersed. PM Giorgi Gakharia says that form of protest is illegal.

11/14/2019

Parliament fails to pass electoral reforms that would diminish the dominance of Georgian Dream, setting off wide protests. The opposition has demanded that all legislative seats be elected proportionally in coming elections, a change that was to occur in 2024.

09/08/2019

Raul Khajimba of National Unity for Abkhazia is re-elected in an extremely close vote against Alkhas Kvitsina of Amtsakhara.

09/08/2019

Gakharia elected prime minister

Parliament appoints Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia prime minister and his cabinet is confirmed.

09/02/2019

Prime minister resigns

Prime minister Mamuka Bakhtadze announces his resignation on Facebook, saying that he has accomplished his mission. There have been anti-government protests against the turn to Russia recently. Interior minister Giorgi Gakharia could become the next prime minister.

08/25/2019

Presidential elections in Abkhazia. The People's Assembly had originally set a date for 21 July, but supporters of candidate Aslan Bzhania, poisoned in Russia, demanded rescheduling of the election. No candidate gathers more than 50 % of the votes in the first round, forcing a second between incumbent separatist leader Raul Khadzhimba and head of the Amtsakhara opposition party, Alkhaz Kvitsiniya. No vote totals were announced. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has called the election "a sham."

06/20/2019

During a visit by a Russian delegation, protestors storm parliament building demanding that parliament be dissolved and new elections held. Grigol Vashadze, the leader of the United Opposition alliance, vows to continue protests until the demands are met.

11/28/2018

Zurabishvili elected president

Zurabishvili wins presidency with about 60% of the vote. She is the first woman to hold the position in Georgia.

10/28/2018

Elections for president in Georgia. Salomé Zurabishvili, running as an independent but supported by Georgian Dream, wins 38.6% of the vote. Grigol Vashadze of the United National Movement wins 37.75%. A runoff will be held on 11/28. The close race was a surprise, especially because the ruling Georgian Dream made every effort to support Zurabishvili with state and private means. Though Georgian Dream has concentrated power in the prime minister’s office, the party is increasingly unpopular.

06/20/2018

Mamuka Bakhtadze is elected prime minister. He was formerly minister of finance.

06/13/2018

Government falls

PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili resigns after disagreement with leader of the ruling party Bidzina Ivanishvili. The ruling Georgian Dream party has seven days to submit a new nominee to Pres Giorgi Margelashvili. A slow economy has led to protests in recent months.