Georgian Dream Presents Report Labeling Rose Revolution a Coup, Calls to Ban UNM
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Georgian Dream MP Tea Tsulukiani on September 2 presented a 470-page report by the ruling party's parliamentary investigative commission, which portrays the 2003 Rose Revolution as "a coup" and condemns the United National Movement (UNM) for its rule between 2004 and 2012.
The report accuses the UNM government of systemic human rights violations, corruption, and media censorship. It also blames former president Mikheil Saakashvili and his allies for provoking the 2008 war with Russia and interfering in military decisions during the conflict.
"The crimes were not the misdeeds of individual persons but a well-organized, collusion-based terror in which high-level officials took part," Tsulukiani told lawmakers. She added that torture and inhuman treatment were "systematic and systemic" under UNM's "zero tolerance" policy.
According to Tsulukiani, the commission gathered evidence showing that officials "unlawfully jailed people, tortured them, subjected them to inhuman treatment, raped, or killed them." She said the judiciary "blatantly violated Georgian law and international norms" by failing to respond.
The report also claims UNM engaged in widespread surveillance. "The regime covertly and illegally collected video and photo footage of private life, including intimate life recordings and phone conversations," Tsulukiani said. She argued that these materials were used to control political opponents and damage reputations.
On corruption, Tsulukiani alleged that UNM maintained "a blacklist of to-be-terrorized businessmen" and used racketeering for both political and personal gain. "The wealth they deprived people of was used either for party purposes or for the wellbeing of Mikheil Saakashvili and other leaders' families," she said.
Media freedom was another focus of the report. "Before 2004, Georgian media was diverse," Tsulukiani said. "After the coup called the Rose Revolution, the situation drastically changed." She argued that Saakashvili consolidated near-total control over major outlets.
Addressing the 2008 war, Tsulukiani reiterated Georgian Dream's position that Saakashvili provoked the conflict. "The Georgian army found itself in a war directed by politicians distant from military affairs," she said. She added that the government failed to evacuate civilians despite knowing of rising tensions.
The report further accuses opposition parties and NGOs of acting as "satellites" of UNM since 2012. Tsulukiani named the Coalition for Change, Lelo-led Strong Georgia, and Giorgi Gakharia's For Georgia, claiming they work "in line with the will of outside forces" to undermine the state.
"Neither while it was in power nor afterward has the UNM taken a single step to admit or repent for the actions it committed," Tsulukiani said. "On the contrary, everything was done and still is being done to portray Mikheil Saakashvili and the UNM's rule as an era of development."
Eight opposition figures were sentenced to short prison terms for refusing to testify before the commission. Georgian Dream leaders, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, have said the findings will be submitted to the Constitutional Court in a bid to ban UNM and affiliated opposition parties. The move follows billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili's campaign promise ahead of the 2024 elections.
