Mass Political Dismissals in Georgian Civil Service Follow Pro-European Protests

In recent months, Georgia has witnessed a wave of dismissals targeting civil servants who publicly opposed the government’s decision to suspend the country’s European Union integration process. Hundreds of employees across various state institutions have lost their jobs, often under ambiguous or disputed circumstances, sparking concerns over political repression and violations of constitutional rights.

On November 28, 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the ruling Georgian Dream party would halt Georgia’s EU integration efforts until 2028. This decision provoked widespread backlash, including from thousands of civil servants who signed a public petition defending Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution. This article obliges the state to take all necessary measures to integrate with the EU and NATO.

The government’s response has included dismissals justified by contract expirations or institutional reorganizations, but many affected employees attribute their termination to their political views and activism.

Recent Developments: The Case of Nato Bolkvadze

On June 1, 2025, Nato Bolkvadze, chief analyst of the Customs Risk Management Department within the Georgian Tax Service, was dismissed and fined for participating in pro-European demonstrations. The official dismissal order cited “gross violation of duties imposed by internal regulations,” which recently were tightened to ban participation in protests.

Bolkvadze decries the dismissal as unconstitutional and plans to appeal both the new regulations and her firing. She also highlights that while she is the only employee officially dismissed on such grounds, others were pressured to resign amid a repressive work environment.

Personal Accounts and Legal Context

The dismissals have deeply affected many. Misha Ramazashvili, a nine-year veteran of the Ministry of Defense’s NATO Integration Department, was dismissed under the pretext of reorganization without specific reasons or prior warning. Similarly, Mariam Kandelaki, an eight-year employee of Tbilisi City Hall, and Naniko Bregvadze, a visually impaired operator with over a decade of service, were fired without explanations or offered positions they deemed unacceptable.

“These dismissals hit the most vulnerable — single and multi-child mothers, and sole breadwinners,” noted Kakha Samkharadze, co-chair of the Independent Union of Civil Servants – Article 78 of the Constitution, which was established in December 2024 to support affected employees.

Legal amendments introduced by Georgian Dream have simplified dismissal procedures, allowing mid-level managers to be fired without justification and permitting appointments to key positions without competitive selection. Diplomatic staff are no longer considered permanent civil servants, increasing their vulnerability.

According to Transparency International, up to 700 civil servants had been dismissed by April 2025, with union leaders estimating the number to exceed 800.

Official Responses and Expert Opinions

Government officials, including Prime Minister Kobakhidze and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, have characterized the civil servants’ protests as “self-purging” efforts and attempts to sabotage state institutions, threatening retaliation against signatories.

Legal experts and civil society activists warn of a deliberate state policy aimed at suppressing dissent within public service. Salome Shubladze, director of the Social Justice Center’s social policy program, stated: “The scale of this trend today is unprecedented... Through repressive legislation, Georgian Dream has created a foundation for large-scale punitive actions marked by violations of labor rights.”

With legal challenges underway, including collective lawsuits by the Independent Union of Civil Servants and cases handled by the Social Justice Center, many hope to restore rights and halt the wave of dismissals. However, concerns persist about the weakening of public institutions, rising corruption, and the erosion of democratic norms in Georgia.

“If we don’t unite now,” warns Kakha Samkharadze, “we will face even more corruption, and government institutions will fill with incompetent, dishonest, and insensitive people who blindly sign everything. We will lose access to services, and one day the whole system will collapse before our eyes.”