Tbilisi City Hall plans Rustaveli Avenue rehabilitation in early 2025

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced plans to begin the rehabilitation of Rustaveli Avenue, the city’s most prominent protest site, in the first half of 2025. The announcement follows the approval of next year’s city budget, with Kaladze outlining a phased approach to the project.

“The first step will involve a complete overhaul of the road infrastructure, including underground utilities and green spaces. The next phase will focus on restoring and renovating buildings, many of which are cultural heritage sites. The initial stage, however, is exclusively about road infrastructure and related works,” Kaladze said, without specifying an exact start date.

While Kaladze had previously stated in November 2023 that the project would begin in 2024, the timeline appears to have shifted. The rehabilitation is expected to take more than two years to complete.

Rustaveli Avenue has been a focal point of protests, with thousands gathering near the Georgian Parliament building for the past 27 days to demand new elections. The demonstrations were sparked by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to delay EU membership talks until the end of 2028, drawing widespread criticism.