Ongoing protests prevent ‘full state capture’ by Ivanishvili, expert

International affairs expert Giorgi Rukhadze on Friday said that the ongoing protest movement on Rustaveli Avenue and broader public discontent remained the main factors preventing what he describes as Bidzina Ivanishvili’s attempt to fully consolidate control over the Georgian state.

Rukhadze claimed that although Ivanishvili had already gained control over key state institutions, he had not succeeded in establishing complete dominance. He argued that public protest, critical media, and accumulated civic dissatisfaction served as essential barriers to what he characterizes as a push toward absolute rule.

Rukhadze said that as long as protest activity persisted and independent media outlets continued operating, there remained a “theoretical possibility” of preventing the emergence of a dictatorship in Georgia. He claimed this was the reason for what he described as the ruling party’s intensified efforts to constrain or discredit the Rustaveli demonstrations.

Commenting on recent police actions, Rukhadze noted that law enforcement had begun closing roads in response to protest activities, calling the situation “paradoxical” and “symbolic” of current political dynamics.

He added that establishing absolute political control - especially influencing public thinking - required a long-term process supported by extensive propaganda. While he believed pro-government messaging was active and impactful, he argued that transforming Georgia into a “Russian information space” would still take several years.

Rukhadze concluded that the resilience of civic protest and the continued presence of critical media remained central factors shaping the country’s democratic trajectory.