EditGeorgia’s ruling party braces for protests with alleged Russian muscle ahead of local elections
The government has sharply increased pressure on diplomatic missions, targeting the ambassadors of the EU, the UK and Germany
Although the ruling Georgian Dream party controls the country with an iron fist, Georgia’s authorities appear visibly nervous ahead of the 4 October local elections, European Pravda reports from Georgia. The full article can be found here.
Investigative journalistic reports from Tbilisi suggest that Russian special police and fighters from Dagestan and North Ossetia are being deployed to Georgia under the guise of a martial arts championship, as the pto-Russian Georgian Dream faces mounting pressure ahead of the elections and the anticipated opposition protests in Tbilisi.
As such, the elections lack intrigue, as most opposition parties have refused to participate. Yet the opposition has declared the date as the beginning of the “liberation of the Georgian people from the pro-Russian regime” and announced the start of large-scale protests in the capital.
As the vote approaches, the authorities’ nervousness has become more noticeable, and a week before the polls they demonstrated their readiness to apply all forms of violence available to them – including, if necessary, relying on muscle support from the Russian Federation.
Fighters from Dagestan and North Caucasus
The authorities’ preparations appear increasingly concerning. From 27 September to 3 October, Tbilisi is hosting the World Mixed Martial Arts Championship (MMA), with over a thousand athletes participating. The timing has raised eyebrows.
In an interview with Georgian journalist and blogger Tengogotovili, an anonymous Chechen security officer claimed that fighters from Russia’s Akhmat special forces police unit, alongside athletes from Dagestan and North Ossetia, were instructed to travel to the championship. According to him, they were instructed “to beat Georgian athletes in the ring, and pro-Western protesters at the rally.”
The officer said the plan is directly supervised by Chechnya’s Deputy Prime Minister and security chief Abuzaya Bismurad, nicknamed “Patriot.” He added that Ossetian athletes had already allegedly been involved in dispersing anti-government rallies in Tbilisi in December 2024, during protests triggered by the rejection of a pro-European course.
The claims are echoed by the organisation “Caucasian Legion,” which fights alongside Ukraine. Its representative, Mikhail Baturin, said the transfer of North Caucasian athletes to Georgia to suppress protests on 4 October was already under way, calling it a “disguised operation.” He named two individuals, Sulim Batalov and a certain “Abubakar,” who he said were already in Georgia, and linked the developments to a recent visit by UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev.
According to Baturin, the use of North Caucasian athletes as “titushky” (hired thugs) shows Georgian Dream’s distrust of its own security services.
Fighting the German ambassador
The unease of the authorities is reflected in their rhetoric, which hardly resembles the confident stance of politicians sure of their popular support. The government has sharply increased pressure on diplomatic missions accredited in Tbilisi, targeting the ambassadors of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The German and British envoys were even summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. German Ambassador Peter Fischer told reporters before his meeting that being summoned was a “form of diplomatic sanction,” something he considered “very unusual” in relations between friendly countries.
“This is the first case in the history of modern Georgia’s relations with Germany, when the German ambassador is summoned to the Foreign Ministry… I strongly reject the unfounded allegations made against the Federal Republic of Germany, me and other ambassadors. I will continue to criticise the current course of Georgia, which contradicts EU membership,” Fischer said.
In a lengthy statement, the Georgian Foreign Ministry insisted it had reminded the ambassador of his obligation under Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) not to interfere in the internal affairs of the host country. The warning comes following the presence of Western diplomats at trials of activists and opposition figures.
Georgian Dream leaders echoed the attacks. Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili claimed that Ambassador Fischer had “burned all the bridges with the Georgian government.” Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze went further, suggesting that “to call this man an ambassador is perhaps somewhat offensive to representatives and embassies of other countries.”
Such rhetoric comes as the EU openly considers suspending Georgia’s visa-free regime – a move that would strongly hit the authorities. The conduct of the 4 October elections is expected to be a key marker in Brussels’ decision on whether to revoke or maintain visa-free travel.
Opposition under heavy pressure
The ruling party’s measures extend beyond physical intimidation. The authorities have moved to ban the largest opposition party, the United National Movement, chaired by former president and imprisoned political figure Mikheil Saakashvili. The ban is seen as a signal to all political forces that Georgian Dream is prepared to do whatever it takes to retain power.
This readiness is underscored by the rhetoric of party ideologues. On the eve of the vote, Zaza Shatirishvili, considered the “philosopher” of Georgian Dream, publicly said it would be good if opponents of the regime emigrated from Georgia, adding with satisfaction that many of his acquaintances had already lost hope and left the country.
Caption: File photo. A supporter of the Georgian opposition takes part in a protest near the Georgian Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, 29 December 2024. EPA/DAVID MDZINARISHVILI
Updated: October 1, 2025 - 05:46
