Prepared by Messenger Staff
Opposition Alliance Accuses Ivanishvili of Repressive Policies
Georgia's Opposition Alliance accused billionaire and Georgian Dream party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili of punishing citizens for refusing to recognize his legitimacy, saying the move shows the government fears public dissent.
In a statement, the alliance said the parliament "controlled" by Ivanishvili passed a new repressive law in its third reading that threatens criminal prosecution for citizens who consider the regime illegitimate.
"Dictator Ivanishvili is punishing the people, who are the only source of legitimacy for any democratic government, with imprisonment for not recognizing his legitimacy," the statement said.
According to the alliance, such steps are taken only by governments that lack political legitimacy and have "betrayed Georgia's national interests, independence, sovereignty and constitution."
The group also argued that the adoption of "draconian laws" aims to suppress public reaction to policies that, in their view, restrict citizens' fundamental rights.
At the same time, the opposition said the government's actions reveal its vulnerability. "The regime itself reveals the prerequisite for its own defeat: it fears the people's non-recognition the most," the statement said.
The alliance reaffirmed its strategy of refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the current government and pledged to strengthen that policy both domestically and internationally.
It also said that after the defeat of Ivanishvili's rule, Georgia would have a democratic coalition government that would repeal all repressive laws.
Georgia, Turkey Arrest 14 Turkish Citizens Wanted for Serious Crimes
Georgian and Turkish law enforcement authorities arrested 14 Turkish citizens in a joint operation in Georgia, officials announced on March 5.
At a briefing held at Georgia's Interior Ministry, Irakli Dondoladze, deputy director of the Central Criminal Police Department, and Iskender Güray Keskin, deputy head of the Interpol-Europol Department of Turkey's General Directorate of Security, said the operation was the result of "lengthy operational and investigative measures" carried out jointly by Georgian and Turkish authorities.
According to officials, eleven of the detainees were wanted internationally under a Red Notice issued by Interpol, while three others were wanted at the national level in Turkey.
Authorities said the suspects are accused of committing "grave" and "particularly grave" crimes, including drug-related offenses, robbery, intentional bodily harm, weapons-related crimes, property damage, evading imprisonment, membership in a criminal organization, murder, and fraud across 26 separate episodes.
Most of the suspects had entered Georgia before becoming internationally wanted, while some allegedly crossed into the country illegally, officials said.
Procedures are now underway to transfer the detainees to Turkey. Officials also noted that Georgian and Turkish police conducted a similar joint operation in August 2025, during which 14 individuals wanted by Turkish authorities were detained.
